GLEXN  NEGLEY 


FRIENDS  OF 

DUKE   UNIVERSITY 

LIBRARY 

GIFT  OF 


Glenn  JR.    Noglej 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2010  with  funding  from 
Duke  University  Libraries 


http://www.archive.org/details/crucibleislandroOOpall 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

A   ROMANCE,  AN  ADVENTURE 
AND  AN  EXPERIMENT 


By 
CONDE  B.  FALLEN 


New  York 

THE  MANHATTANVILLE  PRESS 

23  East  Forty-first  Street 


Copyright,  1919,  by 
Cond6  B.  Fallen 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Chapter  I ,     .  i 

Chapter  II 7 

Chapter  III         i6 

Chapter  IV         23 

Chapter  V 32 

Chapter  VI         43 

Chapter  VII 56 

Chapter  VIII 66 

Chapter  IX         73 

Chapter  X 80 

Chapter  XI         89 

Chapter  XII 100 

Chapter  XIII 121 

Chapter  XIV 134 

Chapter  XV 149 

Chapter  XVI 158 

Chapter  XVII 168 

Chapter  XVIII 178 

Chapter  XIX 189 

Chapter  XX 200 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 


CHAPTER  I 

"Bring  in  the  prisoner." 

The  speaker,  a  man  of  about  thirty,  dressed  in  a 
simple  suit  of  black,  was  seated  at  a  table  littered 
with  papers,  evidently  of  an  official  character.  Near 
him  sat  an  elderly  man  in  the  uniform  of  an  officer 
of  high  rank,  his  breast  glittering  with  decorations. 
The  latter's  attitude  was  that  of  a  counsellor  to  a 
very  eminent  superior. 

"Your  Highness,  may  I  advise  caution  in  this  in- 
terview?   This  man  is  dangerous." 

"Restrain  your  solicitude,  Count.  Why  should 
I  fear  an  unarmed  man,  a  prisoner  and  manacled?" 

"As  Your  Highness  wishes,  of  course.  But  men 
of  this  stamp  are  desperate.  They  use  their  very 
chains  at  times  as  weapons;  and  how  do  you  know 
but  one  of  his  guards  may  not  be  of  the  same  secret 
fellowship,  ready  to  supply  .  .  ." 
,  "My  dear  Count,  you  would  harness  Providence 
to  your  solicitude,"  interrupted  His  Highness,  with 
a   slight  gesture  of  impatience;   "an   overstrained 

I 


2  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

prudence  is  a  worse  constraint  than  chains,  and  a^ 
crueller  tyrant  than — well,  than  Carl  Runder  thinks 
I  am,"  he  concluded  with  a  flitting  smile. 

"Will  your  Highness  not  keep  the  guard  in  the 
room?" 

"Only  yourself.  Count.  Surely  Carl  Runder  is 
not  such  a  terrible  fellow  that  General  Count  Von 
Hammerstein  and  His  Royal  Highness  of  Unter- 
wald  need  tremble  before  him."  There  was  a  sus- 
picion of  sarcasm  in  the  Prince's  voice  and  a  twinkle 
of  the  eye  unnoticed  by  the  elder  man,  who  merely 
bowed  his  head  in  unwilling  acquiescence,  sighing 
like  one  whose  wisdom  is  squandered  in  vain.  Rising,* 
the  Count  withdrew  to  the  door  with  a  profound 
obeisance,  gave  an  order  to  a  guard  stationed  with- 
out, and,  returning,  took  his  stand  beside  the  Prince. 

"The  prisoner  will  be  here  immediately.  Your 
Highness;  he  was  held  waiting  in  the  ante-room," 
he  said  in  a  resigned  voice. 

After  a  moment's  interval,  during  which  the  Prince 
drummed  absently  on  the  table,  th»  folding  doors 
at  the  farther  end  of  the  chamber  were  thrown  open 
and  there  entered  an  officer  with  a  drawn  sword, 
and  two  soldiers  with  bayonneted  rifles,  between  them 
a  prisoner,  handcuffed.    The  lieutenant  saluted. 

"Retire,"  commanded  the  Count.  "Wait  with- 
out." 

The  prisoner  stood  facing  the  Prince.  He  had 
drawn  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  as  if  in  defiance. 
He  was  of  medium  stature  and  of  rather  slender 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  '3 

figure.  His  beard  was  closely  cut,  his  hair  was 
wavy,  of  a  dark  chestnut  in  color,  and  somewhat 
long;  his  eyes  were  grey  and  open  under  fluent 
brows;  His  lips,  compressed  by  some  strong  emotion, 
and  his  chin,  square  and  full,  thrust  forward  at  the 
moment.  Count  Von  Hammerstein  drew  himself  up 
stiffly. 

"So,"  exclaimed  the  Prince,  "it  is  to  this  yon  have 
come,  Carl  Runder!" 

"To  this,  Adolph  Von  Fausten,"  answered  the 
prisoner  in  a  tense  and  harsh  voice;  "but  I  glory 
in  it.  I  am  ashamed  of  nothing.  I  confess  it  openly. 
I  plotted  against  you  and  your  government.  I  would 
break  down  your  despotism  and  make  this  a  free 
land,  where  there  should  be  no  privilege,  no  rank, 
no  invidious  distinction  of  birth  or  fortune,  but  all 
men  stand  on  the  same  level  in  the  nakedness  of  man- 
hood and  the  truth  of  nature;  all  things  for  all,  un- 
trammeled  distribution  of  the  goods  of  life,  and 
none  to  suffer  and  none  to  be  exploited."  The  pris- 
oner's voice  rose  in  strident  declamation. 

"You  were  always  a  dreamer,  Carl;  I  remember 
you  at  the  University.  Your  dreams  have  brought 
you  to  this.    I  am  truly  sorry  for  you." 

"I  despise  your  pity,"  the  prisoner  burst  out. 
"Who  are  you  to  pity  me?  You,  the  creature  of 
fortune,  thrust  by  the  chance  of  birth  into  your  place 
of  tyranny,  too  blind  to  realize  your  own  misTor- 
tune,  too  puffed  in  your  own  conceit  to  know  the 
greatness  of  humanity;  too  cabined  in  the  slavish 


4  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

traditions  of  a  vile  and  narrow  barbarism  to  under- 
stand the  duty  of  renunciation,  too  .   .  ." 

"Your  Highness !"  vehemently  remonstrated  Von 
Hammerstein,  "this  is  intolerable — to  be  lectured  by 
this  blind  fool !  It  is  not  to  be  endured.  Permit  me 
to  have  him  removed." 

"No,  Count;  he  means  what  he  says — "  Hammer- 
stein stared  at  the  Prince;  "Carl  is  in  dead  earnest; 
I  have  heard  a  thousand  times  all  that  he  can  say;  it 
is  the  stock  of  socialistic  rhetoric,  the  constant  dream 
of  young  visionaries  like  Carl.  Unfortunately  for 
the  enthusiasts,  when  they  would  put  such  dreams  in- 
to action,  as  Carl  has  endeavored  to  put  his,  there 
is  a  practical  side  which  we  must  consider;  the  dream- 
ers who  insist  on  seeking  the  realization  of  their 
dreams  must  be  put  out  of  the  way  for  the  good  of 
society."  A  mocking  smile  played  over  Carl's  fea- 
tures at  the  last  words  of  the  Prince,  uttered  with 
deliberate  emphasis. 

"For  the  good  of  society!"  he  echoed  ironically. 
"You  mean,  Adolph  Von  Fausten,  for  your  own 
good  and  those  of  your  class;  those  who,  under  the 
mockery  of  rule,  exploit  humanity  at  large.  Yes, 
for  your  good,  who  fatten  and  batten  on  what  you 
call  the  proletariat.  Our  stock  rhetoric!  Have 
you  no  stock  rhetoric,  no  banal  platitudes,  under 
which  you  cloak  your  selfishness  and  greed?  The 
thinkers,  for  instance,  must  govern  the  toilers;  the 
strong  must  needs  protect  the  weak,  the  learned  must 
guide  the  ignorant,  under  which  wretched  disguises 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  5 

you  plunder  the  fruits  of  their  toil,  and  call  it  gov- 
Lnment!,  Bah!  You  preach  and  steal.  /  preach 
and  seek  to  right  your  wrongs,  and  you  sn>.te  me 
down  with  the  bludgeon  of  force!  It  .s  only  by 
force  that  you  hold  your  place  of  despotism,  bee, 
you  have  manacled  humanity!"  and  the  prisoner 
held  forth  his  handcuffed  wrists.  _ 

■The  Prince  smiled:     Von  Hammerstem  snorted 
and  started  to  speak,  but  the  Prince  waved  him  into 

silence.  .  ,  „  . 

"True    Carl,  force  does  constitute  a  large  part 
of  social  stability.    But  men  are  not  angels,  and  the 
millennium  has   not  come.      But  let  be   argument. 
You  are  in  my  power;  you  have  plotted  traitorously 
against  me.     You  are  a  menace  to  me  and  mme . 
Shall  I  not  use  my  power  in  my  own  defence?    Grant 
it  be  selfish,  but  selfishness  you  say  is  the  present 
constitution  of  the  world.    You  have  vainly  striven 
to  burst  the  meshes  that  society  has  woven  about 
you;  you  are  an  avowed  and  deadly  enemy  to  its 
present  constitution.     Must  it  not  rid  itself  of  a 

mortal  foe?  ^       i       i     • 

"I  am  not  afraid  of  martyrdom  for  the  glorious 
cause!"    exclaimed   Carl,    lifting   up   his   manacled 

^"  Were  the  conditions  reversed,  and  I  in  your  place 
the  declared  and  mortal  enemy  of  the  established 
socialist  state,  what  would  you  do  with  me ." 

Carl  looked  steadily  at  the  Prince  for  a  moment 
and  said,  "execute  you,  or  incarcerate  you  for  lite. 


6  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

"So  be  it,"  said  the  Prince,  "you  shall  be  trans- 
ported to  Schlectland  for  life.  You  have  pronounced 
your  own  sentence." 

The  prisoner  stood  rigid  for  a  moment,  the  blood 
gathering  tumultuously  to  hhs  heart,  his  face  pale, 
his  lips  colorless;  then,  drawing  himself  up,  he  stood 
and  waited,  uttering  no  word;  for  Schlectland,  in 
Unterwald,  was  a  Name  of  evil  odor,  an  Island  in 
the  sea  from  which  no  man  was  ever  known  to  re- 
turn and  with  which  no  one  in  all  Unterwald,  save 
government  officials,  ever  had  any  communication. 
It  was  a  penal  colony,  whither  were  transported  all 
convicted  of  capital  crimes  who  did  not  meet  their 
fate  on  the  gallows. 

As  the  prisoner  was  escorted  out  of  the  chamber 
by  the  armed  guards,  an  enigmatical  smile  played 
over  the  face  of  His  Highness  of  Unterwald. 


CHAPTER  II 

It  was  a  long  and  bitter  voyage  for  Carl  Runder. 
How  long,  he  did  not  know,  for  in  his  narrow  cabin 
with  its  dim  lantern  light  through  an  iron  grating 
above  the  door,  he  knew  not  the  difference  between 
day  and  night.  He  saw  no  one  but  his  jailer  who 
brought  him  his  food,  and  this  man  spoke  no  word. 

So  this  was  the  end  of  all  his  dreams !  Still  young 
and  ardent,  his  brain  fresh  and  vigorous,  his  heart 
strong  and  his  spirits  bright,  a  solitary  prisoner  in 
an  iron  sepulchre  or  a  slave  in  a  chain  gang,  lashed 
and  driven  to  labor?  The  realization  was  unen- 
durable anguish.  It  seemed  to  sear  his  brain.  No, 
no,  it  could  not  be!  It  was  a  dream,  a  hideous 
dream;  he  must  soon  awaken;  how  long  would  it 
last?  In  his  agony  he  would  at  times  start  to  his 
feet  and,  lifting  up  his  manacled  hands,  curse  the 
tyranny  which  thus  exercised  its  monstrous  power. 

What  was  his  crime  save  that  he  wished  to  allevi- 
ate the  burdens  of  a  groaning  race,  to  make  men  hap- 
pier, to  give  freedom  to  all,  to  bring  mankind  back 
to  the  truth  of  nature,  which  the  hideous  artifice  of 
human  society  ha'd  overlaid  and  hidden  by  foolish 

7 


8  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

traditions  and  iron  customs,  the  vicious  barrier  be- 
hind which  the  tyrannous  few  cunningly  entrenched 
themselves. 

Force  by  force — that  had  been  his  plan;  to  seize 
power  and  smash  down  those  barriers.  It  was  by 
force  the  tyrants  held  their  advantage;  it  must  be 
by  force  that  they  were  to  be  dislodged.  Had  he 
succeeded,  had  he  but  triumphed,  ah !  what  a  hero 
he  would  have  been,  acclaimed  by  all  as  the  bene- 
factor and  liberator  of  his  kind,  but,  failing — see  to 
what  he  had  come!  The  dreadful  abyss  between 
success  and  failure !  And  yet  what  a  little  thing  had 
turned  his  scheme  into  disaster!  A  cipher  letter 
accidentally  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  wrong  per- 
son, and  the  mailed  gauntlet  of  the  tyrant  had 
reached  out  and  clutched  him  with  an  iron  grip. 
Never  to  relax,  never,  never!  It  would  send  him  to 
madness !  But  even  madness  would  be  welcome,  an 
escape  from  the  consciousness  of  this  hell! 

At  times,  exhausted  by  the  intensity  of  his  futile 
passion,  he  would  fall  back  into  a  brooding  apathy 
in  which  he  was  conscious  of  the  constant  pulsation 
of  the  steamer's  machinery  vibrating  through  the 
great  bulk  of  the  iron  monster  carrying  him  to  his 
doom,  like  an  accompaniment  of  metallic  instru- 
ments, reiterating  and  reiterating  the  same  dull  note, 
in  a  deep,  mechanical  rhythm  to  the  fantastic  tu- 
mult of  his  imagination,  as  picture  after  picture 
stretched  before  his  mind's  eye  of  what  might  have 
been  and  what  he  now  was.  • 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  9 

So  the  days  came  and  went  without  distinction  to 
him,  consumed  by  his  own  bitterness,  no  longer 
noting  or  caring  to  note  the  flight  of  time,  until  at 
last  the  cessation  of  the  ship's  vibration  and  the 
sudden  crash  of  a  gim,  re-echoed  by  the  distant  boom 
of  another  in  response,  conveyed  to  him  the  tidings 
that  they  had  arrived  at  the  point  of  destination,  the 
fatal  island  of  Schlectland. 

He  was  morbidly  eager  when  a  guard  with  fixed 
bayonet  appeared  at  his  cabin  door,  and  he  was  or- 
dered to  ascend  to  the  deck.  Blinded  at  first  by  the 
sudden  glimpse  of  day  after  his  long  darkness,  he 
could  see  nothing  of  the  prospect  around  him,  but 
as  his  faculty  of  vision  slowly  returned,  he  gradually 
took  in  a  precipitous  shore  line,  above  which  rose 
high  mountains,  sweeping  sinuously  around  and  al- 
most locking  in  a  narrow  harbor  of  deep  blue  waters 
in  which  the  vessel  lay  anchored. 

Along  the  shore,  apparently  at  the  very  edge, 
stretched  several  long,  low,  stone  buildings,  with 
narrow,  iron-barred  windows;  to  the  right,  a  group 
of  houses,  from  one  of  which,  higher  than  the  rest, 
floated  the  white  eagle  of  Unterwald  on  its  dark 
background.  At  either  side  of  the  harbor  entrance, 
earthen  fortifications  projected,  their  black  guns 
pointing  vv^ith  sinister  muzzles  toward  the  open  sea ; 
cresting  a  hill  just  back  of  the  long  stone  buildings, 
a  battery  of  apparently  lighter  armament.  The 
sky  was  intensely  blue,  the  air  clear,  while  the  sun- 
light streamed  down  in  an  effulgence  that  brought 


10  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

out  the  sombreness  and  ruggedness  of  the  scene  with 
in{ense  vividness. 

All  this  came  gradually  into  Carl's  awakening 
vision  as  he  was  being  rowed  ashore  with  his  armed 
escort.  The  boat  landed  at  a  steep  wooden  dock, 
projecting  out  from  what  seemed  to  be  a  warehouse. 
Carl  was  marched  to  this  building,  from  which  he 
had  seen  the  emblem  ot  Unterwald  floating.  He 
was  then  ushered  into  the  presence  of  an  officer 
whose  uniform  indicated  a  colonel's  rank.  The  ser- 
geant commanding  his  escort  handed  the  officer  a 
sealed  letter.  He  read  it  with  an  indifferent  air, 
and  then,  turning  to  Carl,  laconically  remarked, 
'*Carl  Runder,  Socialist.    To  the  Spielgarten." 

The  sergeant  saluted,  wheeled  about,  ordered  his 
men  to  form  double  file,  one  on  either  side  of  Carl, 
and  march  Issuing  from  the  building,  the  soldiers, 
with  Carl  in  their  midst,  took  a  road  to  the  right  for 
some  hundred  yards  along  the  shore,  and  then  struck 
off  with  many  windings  up  the  mountainside. 

It  was  toilsome  marching  up,  the  ascent  growing 
at  every  turn.  Carl  staggered  heavily  along,  weak 
as  he  was  from  the  narrow  confinement  of  his  voy- 
age, and  hampered  by  his  handcuffed  wrists.  After 
two  hours'  steady  climb,  he  was  ready  to  drop  with 
faintness  and  fatigue.  The  sergeant,  realizing  his 
prisoner's  condition^  called  a  halt,  and,  taking  a 
flask,  placed  it  to  Carl's  dry  and  cracked  lips;  this 
he  supplemented  with  a  half  loaf  of  bread,  and,  or- 
dering the  prisoner  to  sit  on  a  projecting  ledge,  bade 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  ii 

him  rest  and  eat.  This  Carl  did  eagerly,  and  felt 
life  flow  back  into  his  veins  with  the  refreshment  of 
the  liquor  and  the  food. 

After  some  ten  minutes'  rest,  during  which  no 
word  was  spoken,  for  strict  silence  had  evidently 
been  commanded,  the  marching  was  resumed.  After 
another  two  hours'  heavy  tramping  upward,  inter- 
rupted by  one  short  respite,  they  reached  the  sum- 
mit of  the  road  which  then  proceeded  at  almost  a 
level  for  another  hour's  march,  and  then  descended 
at  a  steep  incline  for  some  thirty  minutes'  rapid 
pace,  when  it  entered  a  narrow  defile  whose  steep 
sides  lifted  some  two  hundred  feet. 

Here  a  low,  one-storied  building  of  stone,  which 
Carl  took  to  be  a  guardhouse,  stood  against  the 
right-hand  cliff.  In  front  of  it  paced  a  sentinel; 
when  they  were  within  some  fifty  yards  a  halt  was 
called  and  the  sergeant,  taking  from  his  knapsack  a 
strip  of  cotton  cloth,  proceeded  to  bind  Carl's  eyes. 

The  apprehension  which  had  been  gathering  in 
the  prisoner's  mind  all  during  the  march  upward, 
that  he  was  being  led  to  a  place  of  execution,  was 
now  confirmed.  They  were  bandaging  his  eyes 
preparatory  to  shooting  him. 

A  coldness  seized  upon  him,  the  perspiration  stood 
out  in  beads  upon  his  forehead.  It  was  a  physical 
trepidation.  He  had  no  distinct  fear  of  death;  It 
was  simply  an  overmastering  dread  of  something 
appalling  that  was  about  to  happen.  He  could  for- 
mulate nothing  in  his  mind;  his  brain  seemed  be- 


12  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

numbed  and  unable  to  grasp  the  situation;  it  was  a 
mental  feeling  analagous  to  the  sensation  of  one's 
hand  asleep,  when  its  prehensile  power  is  gone. 

A  sharp  command  to  march  partly  roused  him 
from  his  mental  stupefaction.  He  obeyed  mechanic- 
ally as  if  in  a  nightmare.  It  seemed  to  him  that  be 
passed  through  the  shadow  of  a  deep  archway  and 
then  again  into  the  open;  a  hundred  paces  farther, 
and  he  was  stopped  by  an  abrupt  order  to  halt. 
Some  one  stepped  in  front  of  him  and,  swiftly  un- 
locking his  handcuffs,  drew  them  off.  The  next  in- 
stant a  hand  reached  to  his  head  and  snatched  off 
the  bandage  over  his  eyes,  and  a  voice  behind  him 
peremptorily  commanded:  "Do  not  look  back  or  you 
will  be  shot  down  like  a  dog.  Go  forward;  follow 
the  road." 

For  a  moment  he  stood  dazed;  an  almost  irresist- 
ible desire  to  look  back  seized  him,  but  the  voice 
menacingly  repeated  its  command  to  go  forward. 

Was  this  simply  a  refinement  of  cruelty,  to  re- 
move his  handcuffs  and  unbandage  his  eyes  and  then 
shoot  him  down  from  behind  as  he  advanced  along 
the  road?  Rousing  himself  from  his  bev/ilderment, 
he  stepped  forward,  noting  at  the  same  time  that  he 
had  now  passed  out  of  the  defile  and  that  the  moun- 
tains on  either  side  of  the  road  were  sloping  and 
covered  with  a  growth  of  stately  fir  trees,  reaching 
high  into  the  heavens.  An  impulse  at  first  seized 
him  to  rush  into  the  shelter  of  the  forest  away  from 
the  danger  at  his  back,  but  the  salutary  thought  that 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  13 

perhaps  the  rifles  of  his  guard  were  levelled  at  him, 
ready  to  fire  on  the  instant,  held  him  in  check. 

Nobody,  evidently,  was  following,  for  he  heard 
no  footsteps  on  the  road  behind  him.  He  had  gone 
some  hundred  yards  in  this  state  of  curious  agita- 
tion, betv/een  intense  fear  and  bewilderment,  when 
he  saw,  lying  in  the  very  middle  of  the  road,  almost 
at  his  feet,  a  human  skeleton.  He  recoiled  with  a 
sudden  horror.  Was  this  the  remains  of  some  un- 
fortunate shot  down  as  he  himself  was  about  to  be? 
A  distant  shout  came  from  behind:  "Forward." 

With  a  shudder  he  stepped  over  the  bleached 
bones,  expecting  to  hear  the  crash  of  rifles,  speeding 
his  own  similar  doom.  But  no  sound  broke  the 
mountain  quiet.  And  now  he  noticed,  a  short  dis- 
tance in  front,  a  bend  in  the  road.  It  flashed  across 
him:  Would  not  this  conceal  him  from  the  awful 
threat  behind?  Dare  he  run  for  it?  He  quickened 
his  pace,  but  still  In  fear,  restrained  his  impulse  to 
run.  It  seemed  an  eternity  before  he  reached  that 
bend,  and  as  he  turned  he  broke  instantly  and  fran- 
tically into  the  top  of  his  speed,  fleeing  blindly  for- 
ward, away  from  that  horrible  menace. 

He  ran  impetuously,  as  a  child  would,  from  some 
unknown  terror,  how  far  he  knew  not,  until  finally, 
out  of  sheer  exhaustion,  he  flung  himself  trembling, 
and  with  a  darkness  in  his  eyes,  upon  a  mossy  spot 
by  the  roadside. 

He  lay  there,  panting  and  shaken,  conscious  only 
that  he  had  escaped  from  some  terrible  danger,  like 


14  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

a  man  first  wakening  and  dimly  realizing  that  the 
terror  of  his  dreams  was,  after  all,  but  a  phantom  of 
his  sleep.  Gradually  his  breath  came  back  to  him 
and  his  brain  began  to  clear  again.  What  had  hap- 
pened?   Where  was  he? 

He  looked  up ;  above,  to  the  right,  rose  the  moun- 
tain with  its  great  silent  firs  stretching  up  its  slopes, 
beyond  his  ken.  On  the  other  side  of  the  road,  to 
the  left,  the  scene  was  open.  In  his  headlong  flight 
he  had  not  noticed  that  the  road,  just  this  side  of 
the  bend,  where  he  had  started  to  run,  skirted  a 
steep  precipice,  at  the  bottom  of  which,  he  could 
hear  the  roar  of  raucous  waters  through  a  narrow 
bed.  Raising  his  eyes  and  gazing  out,  he  saw, 
stretching  beneath  him,  a  valley,  apparently  some 
twenty  miles  in  length  and  broadening,  at  its 
widest  part,  to  perhaps  ten  miles.  Great  mountains 
hemmed  it  in  on  all  sides. 

He  was  startled  at  the  prospect.  The  air  was 
very  clear.  Below,  lengthening  through  the  valley, 
he  could  see  a  considerable  stream  winding  in  and 
out  through  meadow  and  forest  land.  The  fields 
were  cultivated,  and  he  could  distinguish  the  varied 
hues  of  the  growing  crops.  Farmhouses  and  their 
outbuildings  were  clearly  discernible. 

Some  distance  down  the  stream,  whose  waters 
were  flowing  at  the  bottom  of  the  gorge  beside  him, 
was  a  village  or  town,  four  or  five  miles  away.  Its 
buildings  appeared  to  be  low,  and  he  was  unable  to 
distinguish    the    streets.      Over    all,    the    sunshine 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  15 

poured  down  with  a  rare  radiance.  It  was  a  scene 
of  peace  and  beauty.  The  silence  of  the  mountain 
height,  broken  only  by  the  sound  of  the  water,  and 
the  balmy  odor  of  the  firs,  fell  soothingly  upon  his 
senses.  The  rich  sunshine  bathed  him  and  warmed 
him,  filling  him  with  a  delicious  languor,  relaxing  him 
strangely  and  delightfully  after  the  severe  tension 
of  body  and  mind  through  which  he  had  just  passed. 
A  dreaminess  came  over  him,  a  weird  seizure  of  un- 
reality took  possession  of  him.  Where  was  he? 
What  did  it  all  mean? 


CHAPTER  III 

It  was  some  time  in  the  latter  half  of  the  after- 
noon, for  the  sun  was  in  the  heavens  toward  the 
mountains  at  the  far  end  of  the  valley,  when  Carl 
awakened.  His  mind  was  full  of  conjectures.  They 
had  not  shot  him  down,  no  doubt,  in  order  to  reserve 
him  for  a  worse  fate.  There  was  evidently  some 
sinister  scheme  in  thus  releasing  him.  He  was  be- 
ing sent  into  some  new  and  terrible  danger. 

And  yet  the  scene  before  him  was  one  of  peace 
and  quiet.  Nature  was  serene  and  smiling  on  moun- 
tain height  and  in  the  outstretched  valley  below. 
Men  evidently  dwelt  there,  following  peaceful  avo- 
cations; the  earth  was  cultivated  and  bearing,  and 
the  town  by  the  river's  edge  was  a  sign  of  industry 
and  intercourse. 

Yet  he  was  fearful?  his  mind  was  confused.  The 
revulsion  of  feeling  which  followed  upon  his  sudden 
and  unexpected  release  from  what  had  seemed  a  cer- 
tain and  ignominious  death  to  what  now  appeared 
unbounded  freedom  amidst  so  strange  a  scene, 
clouded  his  mental  faculties,  and  he  walked  on  as  in 
a  dream,  which  might  at  any  moment  change  into  a 
hideous  phantasmagoria. 

i6 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  17 

He  tried  to  concentrate  and  reason  the  matter 
out,  as  he  proceeded  on  his  way,  now  eagerly  and 
swiftly  forward  in  a  fever  of  anxiety,  then  restrain- 
ing his  steps  to  a  lagging  pace  as  suggestive  doubt 
and  uncertainty  of  suspicion  entrammeled  his  flag- 
ging spirits. 

He  had  now  descended  almost  to  the  base  of  the 
mountain,  when  he  was  startled  by  a  sudden  crash- 
ing sound  some  little  distance  ahead.  He  stopped 
and  listened.  Nothing  broke  the  stillness;  all  was 
silent  again. 

Pushing  forward  slowly  and  cautiously,  again  the 
crash,  nearer.  He  now  recognized  it  as  falling  tim- 
ber; someone  nearby  was  evidently  felling  trees. 
At  the  end  of  another  two  hundred  yards  he  could 
hear  the  thud  of  axes,  followed  by  an  interval  filled 
with  the  sound  of  voices,  and  then  the  sound  of  axes 
again.  The  woodsmen  were  off  the  road  among  the 
trees. 

He  went  in  their  direction,  seeking  concealment 
behind  intervening  bushes  and  trees  and  shortly  came 
upon  half  a  dozen  men  at  work,  wielding  their  axes. 
One  stood  apart,  evidently  directing  the  others, 
though  he,  too,  held  an  axe  in  his  hand. 

Carl  stood  hesitating.  Should  he  reveal  himself 
and  accost  them?  Who  were  they?  Would  they 
prove  friend  or  foe?  He  knew  that  he  must  make 
himself  known  to  the  people  of  the  valley.  Why  not 
to  these,  the  first  upon  whom  he  had  chanced? 

The  mystery  of  the  situation  had  become  a  bur- 


i8  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

den  to  him;  he  would  find  out  what  it  all  meant. 
Stepping  from  behind  his  concealment  he  advanced 
into  open  view  of  the  woodcutters. 

The  man  directing  the  others  perceived  him  first. 
He  was  a  tall,  raw-boned,  stalwart  fellow.  His  face 
was  heavily  tanned.  He  did  not  seem  surprised  at 
the  sight  of  Carl. 

"Begorra !"  he  exclaimed  with  an  unmistakable 
brogue,  "here's  another  lad  for  the  Spielgarten! 
The  Spalpeens  have  given  him  a  run  for  it.  Faith, 
he  looks  like  a  ghost!  Don't  be  afraid,"  he  shouted 
to  Carl,  who  had  stopped,  hesitating,  "Come  on,  me 
lad,  we're  brothers  to  ye.  It's  a  cozy  bit  of  a 
place  ve've  come  to;  afther  ye're  own  likin',  I'm 
thinkin'." 

"Who  are  you?    Where  am  I?"  queried  Carl. 

"Sure,  the  question's  natural,  me  lad,"  answered 
the  other,  "and  you're  not  the  first  that's  asked  it. 
It's  a  hard  time  ye've  had,  no  doubt;  I  was  there 
meself,  onct.  It's  a  little  way  they  hav^e  of  scarin' 
the  soul  out  of  your  body;  but  there's  small  harm 
done,  afther  all." 

"But  where  am  I?"  querulously  reiterated  Carl. 
"What  does  it  all  mean?" 

"Whist  now,  be  aisy,  and  I'll  tell  you;  but  soon 
you'll  be  findin'  out  for  yoursel'  before  long  and 
ve'll  be  as  plased  as  if  ye'd  found  a  whole  litther  of 
pigs  for  the  mere  findin'.  Sure  ye're  In  the  Spiel- 
garten and  to  sthay,  at  that,  too." 

"Well,    what    is    the    Spielgarten?"    impatiently 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  19 

asked  Carl,  nettled  a  little  at  the  indirection  of  the 
brawny  woodsman. 

The  other  laughed.  "I'm  thinkin'  it  a  bit  of  a 
thrick  of  the  man  that's  sent  ye  here.  Now  be  aisy 
me  lad,  and  I'll  tell  ye.  The  Spielgarten  is  this 
bloomin'  valley,  and  a  purty  bit  of  nature  it  is,  as 
ye're  findin'  out  for  yersel',  and  it's  a  place  the  man 
that  sent  you  here  has  prisinted  to  the  loikes  of  ye 
that  disagrees  with  him  in  the  matter  o'  govermint, 
an'  he  says  to  thim,  not  straight  and  forward-like, 
but  quite  contrarywise,  ye  wurrk  out  ye're  own  no- 
tion of  governmint  here  and  let  me  run  mine  ac- 
cordin'  to  me  own  ideas.  So,  me  lad,  we're  runnin'. 
ourselves  our  way  without  bein'  bothered  by  him, 
at  all,  at  all.  I'm  thinkin'  he's  a  wise  one  that  makes 
an  experiment  on  another  man's  hide." 

There  was  a  bit  of  latent  sarcasm  in  the  woods- 
man's voice  and  a  twitch  of  his  eye, 

"Do  you  mean  Socialism?"  came  from  the  won- 
dering Carl. 

"Bedad,  that  I  do;  the  very  same,  me  boy,"  re- 
plied the  other, 

"What?"  Carl  exclaimed,  drawing  his  breath 
sharply  as  he  gleaned  the  significance  of  the  other's 
words,  "Do  you  mean  to  say  that  the  Prince  of 
Unterwald  has  given  over  this  valley  to  the  Socialists 
to  work  out  their  own  theory  of  government?" 

"Ye  jump  quick,  me  lad,"  answered  the  other  with 
an  amused  smile,  "It's  the  very  same,  I'm  thinkin'. 
Sure,  an'  ye'U  get  used  to  It.    'Tis  a  Socialist  colony 


20  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

left  to  its  own  devices  and  other  things  in  the  bar- 
gain, I'm  thinkin',"  he  added,  taking  off  his  cap  and 
stroking  the  back  of  his  head  in  a  way  suggesting 
reflection. 

Carl  stood  for  a  moment  in  utter  surprise.  He 
was  stunned  by  the  news.  The  woodsman  with  his 
companions,  who  had  ceased  their  work,  grouped 
themselves  around  Carl  and  looked  at  one  another, 
smiling  knowingly.  Carl  stood  dazed.  It  was  like 
being  tossed  out  of  the  gulfs  of  hell  to  the  heights  of 
Paradise.  Hopeless,  he  had  looked  death  in  the 
face  but  a  short  hour  ago,  a  doomed  political  crim- 
inal, felon  and  outcast  from  society,  and  now  he 
stood  among  friends,  brothers  indeed  and  in  truth, 
in  a  land  where  his  long  dream  of  Socialism,  he  was 
told,  was  being  realized;  a  Socialist  state  founded 
and  working  out  its  great  ideals ! 

He  looked  half-doubtingly  and  inquiringly  at  the 
faces  around  him.  They  understood  the  interroga- 
tion of  his  eager  eyes.  They  nodded  and  smiled. 
Yes,  they  all  assured  him,  it  was  true;  the  Spielgarten 
was  a  Socialist  colony  where  Socialism  was  practised 
down  to  its  completest  detail;  no  privilege,  no  caste, 
no  rank,  no  social  distinction,  all  equal,  the  good  of 
all  the  supreme  interest. 

It  was  too  much  for  Carl's  overwrought  nerves; 
he  fairly  broke  down.  The  brawny  Irishman  who 
had  been  the  r.pokesman  of  the  party  took  the  weak- 
ened "laddie,"  as  he  called  him,  in  his  sturdy  arms 
and  supported  him,  all  the  while  pouring  out  a  flood 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  21 

of  soothing  terms  in  a  rich  soft  brogue,  and  telling 
Carl  how  he  himself  had  been  through  the  same  or- 
deal; had,  like  him,  been  marched  blindfolded 
through  the  mountain  defiles  and  then  set  free  on 
the  road  leading  into  the  valley. 

When  Carl's  emotion  had  spent  itself,  the  Irish- 
man, McCarthy,  for  so  he  was  called  by  the  others, 
pulled  out  a  flask,  out  of  which  he  made  Carl  drink 
of  a  refreshing  beverage.  The  drink,  with  some 
bread,  put  a  little  strength  into  his  exhausted  body 
again,  for  he  had  taken  nothing  the  whole  day  save 
what  his  guard  on  the  road  up  the  mountain  had 
given  him. 

The  sun  was  now  back  of  the  mountains,  whose 
shadows  stretched  over  the  valley,  making  a  long 
twilight.  McCarthy  and  his  fellow  woodsmen, 
shouldering  their  axes,  left  the  scene  of  their  labors, 
and  with  the  refreshed  Carl  entered  the  road  and 
followed  it  into  the  valley. 

As  they  walked,  little  was  said;  Carl  felt  his  fa- 
tigue and  though  a  thousand  questions  swarmed  into 
his  brain,  he  did  not  ask  them,  but  gave  himself  up 
to  the  strange  exaltation  which  had  taken  hold  of 
him,  like  a  man  whose  fondest  hopes  had  at  last  been 
realized.  He  was  in  a  Socialist  State!  The  great 
dream  of  his  life,  against  which  the  barriers  of  long 
ages  of  tyranny  and  iron  custom,  and  brutal  force 
had  stood  impregnable  suddenly  rising  up  before 
him  like  a  beautiful  vision,  and  yet  not  a  vision,  but 
a  practical  reality. 


22  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

Here  the  artificial  society  which  had  encumbered 
the  progress  of  mankind  for  long  centuries  was  un- 
known; everything  came  from  nature,  pure  and  un- 
adulterated from  the  beginning.  Here,  society  had 
started  without  prejudice,  unhampered  by  vicious 
customs,  having  as  its  root,  simple  and  free  human- 
ity. How  glorious  it  all  was!  What  a  joyous  con- 
summation of  all  his  deepest  aspirations!  Here  was 
the  reign  of  perfect  justice,  the  ideal  of  truth  and 
love  for  mankind. 

Carl's  fond  thoughts  were  interrupted  by  their 
approach  to  a  farmhouse  by  the  roadside,  where 
McCarthy  announced  to  him  they  would  rest  for 
the  night.  As  they  drew  near,  the  twilight,  which 
had  long  been  softly  glowing  in  the  sky,  died  out  sud- 
denly, and  the  heavens  were  instantly  aglow  with 
thousands  of  lustrous  stars.  Never  were  they  so 
bright  to  Carl,  never  so  beautiful.  They  seemed 
to  speak  of  peace  and  love  and  justice  and  rest  to  him 
from  these  serene  heights,  the  bright  symbols  of  the 
new  life  he  had  so  surprisingly  found. 


CHAPTER  IV 

Carl  had  now  been  a  month  in  the  Spielgarten,  a 
citizen  of  the  Socialist  State,  which  was  putting  into 
practice  the  economic  and  social  principles  known 
only  in  theory  elsewhere  in  the  world.  He  had 
learned  that  there  existed  a  secret  compact,  which 
had  originated  in  Unterwald,  between  the  govern- 
ments of  Europe,  to  transport  all  Socialists  to  this 
island,  where  they  might  freely  work  out  the  socialist 
scheme. 

,  The  purpose  of  the  world's  rulers  was  not  benevo- 
lent, but  corrective;  it  was  supposed  that  the  Social- 
ist State  would  break  down  under  its  own  weight 
after  an  unhampered  and  practical  trial.  It  was, 
besides,  an  easy  way  of  getting  rid  of  elements 
troublesome  and  dangerous  to  the  traditional  system 
of  society  founded  upon  inequality  and  privilege. 

Communication  with  the  outside  world  was  abso- 
lutely cut  off.  The  island  was  hemmed  in  by  lofty 
and  precipitous  mountains,  natural  and  impregnable 
barriers  save  at  the  eastern  end.  At  the  sole  en- 
trance was  a  garrison  of  soldiers  to  guard  against 
any  exit  on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  valley, 

23 


24  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

and  death  was  the  instantaneous  penalty  of  any  at- 
tempt to  make  an  egress.  In  several  instances  those 
who  had  tried  it  were  brutally  shot  down. 

The  skeleton  which  Carl  had  come  across  on  the 
road  the  day  he  came  to  the  island  was  that  of  a 
man  who,  growing  discontented,  had  boldly  sought 
to  reach  the  outer  world  through  the  pass,  after 
vainly  essaying  to  escape  elsewhere  over  the  moun- 
tains. Equally  rigid  were  the  safeguards  against 
communication.  A  soldier  who  was  discovered  to 
have  had  communication  with  an  inhabitant  of  the 
valley,  even  so  much  as  a  word,  was  forthwith  shot. 
So  jealously  was  this  exclusion  from  the  outside 
world  guarded  that  the  Socialists  of  the  Spielgarten 
might  have  been  the  inhabitants  of  another  planet. 
Their  only  knowledge  of  humanity  at  large  came 
through  the  recruits  who,  like  Carl,  were  thrust  from 
time  to  time  into  the  valley,  never  to  return. 

The  colony  had  been  in  existence  for  fifty  years 
at  the  time  of  Carl's  advent.  The  founders  were  a 
band  of  five  hundred  Socialists  who  had  been  gath- 
ered and  transported  en  masse  into  the  valley  by 
a  preconcerted  arrangement  of  the  different  govern- 
ments of  Europe.  Among  these  were  a  number  of 
women,  for  the  most  part,  wives  of  the  founders. 
Others  were  women  who  had  been  convicted  for  capi- 
tal offenses,  and  were  sent  in  during  the  first  ten 
years  to  supply  the  dearth  of  the  female  sex, 
which  had  been  foreseen  by  the  originators  of  the 
scheme. 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  25 

Of  the  founders  of  the  colony  few  were  now  alive, 
but  what  with  recruits  from  without  and  the  natural 
propagation  of  the  race,  which  was  carefully  super- 
vised by  the  State,  the  inhabitants  of  the  valley  had 
grown  to  some  ten  thousand  souls,  the  majority  of 
whom  were  native  to  the  Spielgarten  and  had  been 
brought  up  under  the  socialist  regime. 

The  climate  of  the  island  was  semi-tropical,  the 
soil  fertile,  and  nature  beneficent.  The  mountains 
were  profusely  timbered  and  rich  in  ore.  Nothing 
was  materially  wanting  to  supply  human  needs. 

At  first  many  difficulties  beset  the  colonists  in  de- 
vising a  system  of  government,  which  should  meet 
the  requirements  of  the  Socialist  State.  There  were 
bitter  differences  of  opinion  as  to  ways  and  means, 
some  conservative,  some  progressive,  and  it  was  not 
until  some  twenty  years  after  the  foundation  of  the 
colony  that  a  consistent  and  logical  plan  was  grad- 
ually evolved  in  keeping  with  the  Socialist  ideal 
This  regime  had  been  rigidly  enforced  ever  since, 
and  Socialism  in  its  fullest  logic  and  completest  ex- 
pression now  flourished  in  the  Spielgarten,  the  only 
spot  on  earth  where  it  had  struck  root  and  been  fol- 
lowed according  to  its  own  ideals. 

The  people  of  the  Spielgarten  were  made  up  of 
various  nationalities.  The  largest  element  was  Ger- 
man, and  the  language  spoken  was  of  that  nation. 
There  were  Russians,  Poles,  Italians,  a  few  English- 
men, and  one  solitary  Irishmanjjthe  man  who  had 
met  Carl  on  the  Vv^ay  down  the  mountain. 


26  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

(  Among  the  native-born  the  distinction  of  national 
type  was  almost  lost.  It  was  only  among  the  re- 
cruits, who  had  been  transported  thither,  that  the 
difference  of  racial  type  remained  distinctive.  The 
natives,  with  rare  exceptions,  presented  a  notable 
homogeneity  both  in  feature  and  in  manner,  which 
Carl  did  not  fail  to  remark,  after  he  had  been  in  the 
Island  a  few  weeks. 

The  climate  was  evidently  healthful,  and  there 
seemed  to  be  little  sickness  on  the  island;  the  air  was 
salubrious  and  the  water  pure,  the  changes  of  tem- 
perature within  a  narrow  range  throughout  the  en- 
tire year.  The  physique  of  both  the  men  and  women 
was  robust.  Indeed,  to  Carl's  eyes,  Schlectland 
seemed  a  veritable  paradise,  climate  and  soil  all  that 
could  be  desired,  nature  beautiful  and  varied,  and, 
above  all,  that  perfect  human  equality,  based  upon 
the  common  good,  which  Socialism,  freed  from  the 
constraints  of  tradition  and  custom,  was  here  prac- 
tically demonstrating  to  be  the  millennium  of  hu- 
manity. Oh,  that  the  world  might  know  of  the  social 
paradise  into  which  he  had  been  so  strangely  and 
happily  thrust ! 

For  the  first  few  weeks  he  seemed  to  be  living  in 
a  dream.  Although  he  had  been  a  close  student  of 
Socialism,  it  was  only  by  degrees  that  he  learned  to 
comprehend  the  practical  workings  of  what  had  been 
to  him  heretofore  a  theory.  The  social  machinery 
around  him  worked  so  noiselessly  and  smoothly  that 
it  \vas  scarce  perceptible.     The  administration  of 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  27 

government  seemed  remarkably  simple,  and,  as  far 
as  he  could  observe,  almost  autonomous. 

Its  basis  was  the  popular  franchise.  All  over  the 
age  of  twenty-one  voted,  and  the  suffrage  was  not 
restricted  to  the  male  sex,  but  also  accorded  to 
women.  There  was  a  General  Assembly  whose 
members  were  elected  every  four  years  from  ten  dif- 
ferent districts  Into  which  the  Splelgarten  was  polit- 
ically divided.  The  functions  of  this  body  were 
chiefly  legislative,  and  Its  enactments  became  law 
subject  only  to  the  decision  of  what  was  called  the 
Council  of  Welfare,  which  passed  judicially  upon 
the  constitutionality  of  the  laws  enacted  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  when  these  were  called  in  ques- 
tion. 

The  Constitution  was  drawn  upon  strict  Socialist 
principles  and  based  upon  the  absolute  supremacy  of 
the  State,  the  recognized  fountain  head  of  all  legis- 
lation, the  source  of  domestic  and  civic  duties.  The 
Constitution  was  declared  inviolable  and  subject  only 
to  the  interpretation  of  the  Common  Council  of  Wel- 
fare. Its  preamble  affirmed  that  the  safety  of  the 
people  was  the  supreme  law,  that  the  absolute  equal- 
ity of  all  men  was  the  fundamental  principle  of 
nature,  and  that  It  was  the  first  duty  of  the  State  to 
guard  and  maintain  this  perpetual  equality  In  all 
domestic,  social,  civic  and  political  relations. 

The  Common  Council  of  Welfare  elected  from 
Its  own  body  an  executive  staff  known  as  the  Par- 
ticular  Council  of  Welfare,   whose   duty  was  the 


28  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

administration  of  the  laws,  and  whose  responsibility 
for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  offices  bark- 
ened back  to  the  General  Assembly,  which  possessed 
the  constitutional  power  of  impeachment  and  pun- 
ishment of  any  executive  officer  for  malfeasance  in 
the  performance  of  his  duties.  The  Particular 
Council  appointed  judges,  one  for  each  two  districts, 
who  presided  over  all  trials  within  their  respective 
territories,  and  from  whose  decisions  appeal  could 
always  be  made  to  the  Particular  Council. 

Such  in  general  outline  was  the  structure  of  the 
government  of  this  unique  system  which  Carl  found 
working  so  smoothly  and  simply  in  the  Spielgarten. 
To  him  it  was  a  rev^elation  beyond  his  wildest  hope, 
an  ideal  condition  of  humanity,  of  which  he  had 
hitherto  only  dreamed  as  the  possibility  of  a  millen- 
nial future. 

On  all  sides  peace  and  content  reigned.  Day  in 
and  day  out  men  went  about  their  various  avocations 
quietly  and  happily  None  questioned,  all  obeyed. 
There  was  no  poverty,  no  Avant,  no  inequality,  no 
distinction  of  persons,  •  and  no  rank.  The  State 
supervised  and  directed  everything. 

Under  the  working  of  this  omnipresent  regime 
there  existed  no  possibility  of  one  man  excelling  or 
obtaining  more  than  his  neighbor.  Food,  clothing, 
and  shelter  were  carefully  distributed  to  all  alike, 
and  all  occasion  of  envy  was  inevitably  eliminated. 
While  each  contributed  according  to  his  ability, 
under  State  direction,  to  the  common  stock,  to  each 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  29 

was  distributed  with  an  even-handed  impartiality  an 
equal  share. 

The  hours  of  labor  were  fixed  by  law,  and  so  ar- 
ranged as  to  fall  with  little  duress  upon  any.  One 
day  of  the  week  was  free,  and  on  that  day  labor  was 
strictly  prohibited.  Every  three  months  a  period 
of  three  days  was  set  aside,  during  which  the  people 
might  occupy  themselves  as  they  pleased;  but  if  dur- 
ing this  time  they  devoted  themselves  to  labor,  of  a 
productive  nature,  the  result  had  to  be  deposited  In 
the  common  store.j 

These  "play-days,"  as  they  were  called,  were 
usually  spent  in  recreation;  some  busied  themselves 
with  domestic  concerns,  such  as  arranging  and  fitting 
their  dwellings  according  to  their  tastes,  though  a 
limit  was  placed  upon  all  domestic  ornamentation, 
which  might  savor  of  an  ostentatious  distinction.  A 
few  filled  in  this  leisure  time  with  productive  work. 
Many  took  tlie  occasion  to  visit  friends  living  at  a 
distance.  Recreation  and  leisure  was  the  spirit  of 
the  hour  during  the  "play-days." 

Carl's  wonder  grew  as  he  watched  and  noted  the 
operations  of  what  seemed  to  him  so  simple  and  so 
perfect  a  system.  Here  was  the  one  spot  on  earth 
where  the  burden  of  life  did  not  bear  upon  groaning 
shoulders,  where  a  social  hierarchy  did  not  lay  its 
heavy  weight  In  successively  increased  oppressions 
upon  the  galled  backs  of  the  sweating  masses.  None 
here  were  trampled  In  the  mire  under  the  feet  of  a 
callous  and  haughty  aristocracy.     There  was  no  op- 


'30  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

portunlty  in  this  garden  of  peace  and  blessedness  for 
a  bourgeoisie  to  exploit  the  helpless  and  the  hopeless 
crowd.  The  curse  of  greed,  the  root  of  the  world's 
evil,  where  society  was  based  upon  the  Idea  of  indi- 
vidual gain,  was  here  utterly  eliminated.  For  none 
could  possess  more  than  nature  dictated  for  his 
proper  needs. 

A  ruling  class,  entrenched  in  fossil  traditions  and 
antiquated  privileges,  was  impossible  in  the  Spiel- 
garten,  for  here  tradition  was  unknown  and  privi- 
lege the  forgotten  folly  of  another  world.  Here  at 
last  was  the  high  realization  of  nature's  true  man- 
hood; human  value  estimated  upon  the  basis  of  a 
common  humanity;  no  fictitious  stamp  of  rank  or 
wealth  to  make  distinction  in  tiie  pure  gold  of  equal 
human  worth.  Coming  to  Carl  so  suddenly,  so  un- 
expectedly, it  was  like  sleeping,  and  then  waking  in 
Paradise. 

For  the  first  month  he  walked  in  an  ecstasy  of 
idealism.  The  beauty  of  nature  around  him  was 
tenfold  more  beautiful.  The  green  valley,  ribboned 
and  silvered  with  its  many  streams  carrying  their 
pure  waters  to  enrich  the  fertile  soil,  whence  nature 
poured  forth  her  bounties  to  the  touch  of  honest  toil, 
stretched  its  lowlands  and  its  wooded  hills,  studded 
here  and  there  with  farmhouses  and  variegated  with 
the  enriching  hues  of  cultivated  fields,  which  human 
industry  for  the  first  time  in  man's  history  under 
the  impulse  of  a  common  love,  had  made  to  blossom 
and  bear  for  the  common  v/elfare. 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  31 

Encircling  the  valley,  the  haunt  of  peace  and  ease 
and  happiness,  the  mountain  heights,  their  lower 
slopes  clothed  in  the  deep  green  of  exuberant  for- 
ests, lifted  lofty  summits  into  the  Intense  azure  of  a 
heaven  which  burned  in  liquid  sapphire  beyond. 
Here  and  there  some  great  peak  soared  with  snowy 
shoulders  in  the  vast  distance  above  the  lower 
ranges.  Highest  of  all,  midway  on  the  eastern  side, 
like  a  great  needle  pricking  into  the  empyrean,  rose 
Mount  Bebel,  a  giant  sentinel  watching  over  the 
valley.  The  deep  repose  and  the  solemn  calm  of  the 
mountains  ft  11  upon  Carl's  spirit  like  a  great  balm. 
It  seemed  to  him  that  at  last  he  had  come  into  a 
supreme  felicity. 

The  sublimity  of  the  scene  seized  upon  his  soul; 
the  peace  and  tranquility  of  the  valley  entered  into 
his  heart.  Mere  living  was  a  bliss.  Here  was  na- 
ture and  man  In  closest  union;  peace  and  good-will, 
content  and  happiness  everywhere.  He  had,  indeed, 
been  transported  into  the  golden  age. 


CHAPTER  V 

h 

{  There  were  no  idlers  in  the  Spielgarten.    Each 

one  had  his  allotted  share  in  the  labor  of  the  com- 
munity. The  division  of  labor  was  predetermined 
by  the  judges  of  the  various  districts.  If  one  were 
discontented  with  the  avocation  to  which  he  was  as- 
signed, he  had  the  right  of  an  appeal  to  the  Par- 
ticular Council  at  the  end  of  six  months,  and  then 
again  at  the  end  of  a  year,  but  their  decision  was 
final. 

At  first  the  colony  had  experienced  great  difficulty 
in  adjusting  the  division  of  labor,  as  there  was  a 
strong  tendency  to  overcrowd  the  lighter  tasks  as 
well  as  seek  those  places  which  seemed  to  carry  some 
mark  of  distinction.  But  as  the  native-born  element, 
which  had  been  reared  and  schooled  in  the  idea  of 
the  Socialist  State,  began  to  preponderate  in  the 
community,  the  leaven  of  self-seeking,  which  had 
been  brought  by  the  original  colonists  as  a  sinister 
inheritance  of  their  former  life  under  the  regime  of 
a  state  based  upon  inequality,  gradually  disappeared, 
and  an  appeal  from  the  first  assignment  of  the  dis- 
trict judge  was  now  a  rare  occurrence. 

32 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  33 

The  children  were  taught  from  infancy  that  they 
were  at  maturity  to  be  placed  at  certain  assigned 
tasks,  and  during  youth  were  trained  with  a  view  to 
the  avocation  thus  g>redetermine(l  for  them. 

It  was  inculcated  also  as  a  cardinal  principle  of 
their  ethical  code  that  there  was  no  distinction  of 
merit  or  reward  in  the  different  avocations  and  con- 
ditions of  life.  The  man  who  dug  or  ploughed  occu- 
pied as  meritorious  and  honorable  a  place  in  the 
community  as  the  judge  of  a  district,  and  no  distinc- 
tion in  the  distribution  of  the  goods  of  life  was  made 
between  them.  ]_  The  dominance  of  this  conception  of 
human  existence  and  its  practical  fulfilment  in  the 
equal  awards  distributed  by  the  State  soon  settled 
the  problem  of  the  division  of  labor.  There  was  no 
emulation  when  there  could  be  no  distinction,  and 
avocations  were  accepted  with  ready  acquiescence. 

When  Carl  arrived  in  the  colony  he  was  treated 
as  were  all  recruits  from  the  outside  world.  As 
manual  labor  was  always  most  in  demand,  he  was 
allotted  to  that  division,  as  was  the  custom  with  re- 
cruits. This  was  by  no  means  to  his  liking,  as  he 
was  a  lawyer  by  profession  and  had  never  In  his  life 
turned  his  hand  to  manual  toil.  His  enthusiasm, 
however,  overcame  his  repugnance,  and  he  set  to 
work  with  zeal  and  energy. 

At  Denis  McCarthy's  suggestion  he  was  attached 
to  the  Irishman's  band  of  woodcutters  with  which  he 
had  fallen  in  on  the  day  of  his  arrival.  He  was  at 
first  clumsy  at  the  work  but  zealous  and  industrious, 


34  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

and  scarcely  brooked  the  good-natured  restraint  witK 
which  Denis  sought  to  hold  him  back.  "Be  aisy,  me 
lad,"  urged  the  Irishman,  "Sure  an  ye'll  have  all  the 
threes  in  the  Spielgarten  down  in  another  month  if 
ye  keep  on  at  this  rate."  And  Carl  learned  in  time 
to  wield  his  axe  with  less  intense  energy  and  more 
effectively  under  McCarthy's  instructions. 

In  the  beginning  the  fatigue  of  the  unusual  labor 
distressed  him  excessively  and  the  soreness  of  his 
muscles  in  spite  of  his  heaviness  drove  sleep  away 
at  night  and  made  him  feel  as  if  he  were  stretched 
upon  a  rack.  By  degrees  this  physical  distress 
passed  away;  his  hands  grew  callous  and  his  muscles 
firm  and  hard.  But  his  highly  keyed  energy  began 
to  slacken  as  his  fervor  cooled  and  he  steadied  down 
to  a  situation  which  began  to  grow  irksome  as  time 
went  by. 

Yet  there  was  some  compensation  in  the  work 
inasmuch  as  it  kept  him  constantly  out  of  doors  and 
built  him  up  physically  in  such  a  fashion  as  surprised 
himself;  besides,  McCarthy  was  a  genial  and  good- 
natured,  companion  to  whom  he  had  taken  a  great 
Taney.  '  The  others  in  the  band  he  soon  discovered 
'•  to  be  ordinary  workmen  who  chopped  away  apathet- 
ically and  exerted  themselves  at  their  task  as 
little  as  possible,  and  had  as  little  to  say.  ■  Denis 
was  supervisor  of  the  band,  though,  like  all  su- 
pervisors in  the  Spielgarten,  he  took  a  share  in 
the  work. 

Carl  soon  noticed  that  Denis,  like  the  others,  went 


li 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  35 

about  his  woodchopping  in  anything  but  an  energetic 
way.  A  minimum  of  performance  seemed  to  be  the 
goal;  and  it  was  not  long  before  he  learned  that  a 
minimum  of  labor  in  a  given  time  prevailed  through- 
out the  Spielgarten,  He  was  inclined  at  first  to  re- 
sent this  as  a  shirking  from  public  duty,  and  expostu- 
lated with  Denis  over  it.  But  the  latter  replied  that 
enough  was  sufficient  and  to  fell  more  trees  than 
could  be  used  would  be  mere  waste.  "Ye'll  learn 
betther  betimes,"  Denis  remarked,  "for,  as  me  ould 
mither  used  to  say,  'too  many  pigs  ate  too  many 
praties  an'  too  many  praties  put  up  the  rint' !" 

They  were  on  their  way  home  after  the  day's 
labor,  cutting  timber  a  mile  east  of  Marxville, 
whither  they  were  returning.  Denis  and  Carl  were 
walking  together  in  the  rear,  their  companions  some 
distance  ahead. 

''  "But  this  is  simply  putting  things  at  the  lowest 
level,"  urged  Carl,  in  reply  to  Denis'  remark. 
"Surely  to  get  the  best  out  of  life  is  the  noblest  am- 
bition, and  the  State  with  the  highest  ideal  will  not 
stop  short  of  oroviding  the  best  for  the  common 
welfare." 

Denis  took  off  his  cap,  as  he  was  wont  when  an 
argument  came  his  way,  and  stroked  the  back  of  his 
head.  "I'm  thinkin',"  he  said  sententiously,  "«-hat 
thrue  contintment  is  the  best.  For  why  should  a 
man  go  on  botherin'  himsel'  with  more  than  he 
nades?  'Tis  just  that,  bedad,  that  plays  the  divil 
wid  the  other  fellows  beyont  the  mountains  there, 


36  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

and  sure  'tis  this  same  contintment  wid  nothin'  to 
bother  about  that  makes  It  aisy  here." 

"Yes,  but  it  isn't  ease  that  we  are  looking  for; 
that  ought  not  to  satisfy  human  brains  and  power 
and  energy,"  impatiently  urged  Carl.  "It's  the  high- 
est, the  best,  all  that  human  brains  and  power  and 
energy  can  devise  and  give  us,  that  we  should  strive 
for.  Humanity  must  go  on  progressing  from  the 
lower  to  the  higher.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  State,  in 
lieu  of  the  selfish  motive  which  urges  individuals 
living  in  inequality,  to  provide  all  this  for  the  com- 
mon good." 

"And  what  may  all  that  be?"  queried  Denis  with 
a  dry  intonation  in  his  voice. 

"Everything  that  nature  and  art  gives  to  man. 
All  that  man  by  toil  may  win  from  the  bosom  of  the 
earth,  or  the  air,  or  the  heavens;  all  that  sculpture, 
painting,  architecture  and  poetry  can  create  for  the 
delectation  of  the  mind  and  the  soul.  With  all  the 
instruments  of  production  in  the  hands  of  the  State 
commanding  all  human  intelligence  and  energy,  what 
is  there  the  State  cannot  achieve?  Who  is  there  that 
the  State  cannot  lead  and  instruct  and  educate  to 
the  understanding  and  appreciation  of  the  highest, 
the  noblest?  All  that  the  autocracy  of  the  earth  has 
ever  wrung  from  the  misery  of  the  many  by  tyran- 
nous extortion  can  be  placed  within  the  reach  and 
the  enjoyment  of  all  without  stint,  if  the  State  but 
seizes  upon  the  powers  and  utilizes  the  instruments 
which  have  heretofore  been  the  possession  of  the 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  37 

few.     No — it  is  not  simple  content,  but  a  noble  en-  \  i 
thusiasm  for  the  best  and  the  highest  to  be  placed  I 
in  the  hands  of  all  that  must  be  the  goal  and  ambi- 
tion of  the  State.    That  is  the  Socialist  ideal." 

"  'Tis  aisy  thinkin',  me  lad,  but  'tis  in  the  Spiel- 
garten  ye'll  find  the  doin'.  'Tis  mesel'  would  like 
to  be  an  aristocrat  along  wid  the  rest  well  enough, 
but  'tis  a  long  time  in  the  gettin'."  And  Denis 
stroked  the  back  of  his  head  again  with  a  meditative 
air. 

"Not  so  far  as  you  think,"  answered  Carl,  "and 
here  in  time,  and  that  not  far  distant,  with  prop/er 
and  energetic  direction,  all  this  will  be  accomplished. 
Here  we  start  free  and  untrammeled;  here  the  bar- 
riers of  custom  and  tradition  do  not  impede  prog- 
ress. With  the  shackles  stricken  from  the  limbs  of 
nature  we  can  march  forward  with  giant  strides." 

Denis  looked  rather  negative  at  Carl's  prophetic 
picture  and  remained  rather  cold  to  the  latter's  en- 
thusiasm. He  made  no  reply,  and  when  Carl,  who, 
as  was  his  wont  when  speaking  on  the  subject  of  the 
Socialistic  ideal,  was  about  to  launch  into  further 
golden  prognostications,  the  Irishman  interrupted 
him,  as  they  approached  a  farmhouse  by  the  road- 
side, with  the  suggestion  that  they  might  stop  for 
"a  dhrink  of  wather  here,  to  take  away  the  dhry- 
ness  that  was  bedivilin'  him  this  half  hour." 

The  farmhouse  was  like  all  other  dwellings  in  the 
Spielgarten,  of  one  story,  for  the  law  forebade  a 
residence  of  any  greater  height.    Buildings  for  pub- 


38  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

lie  use  alone  were  suffered  to  go  beyond  this  meas- 
ure. When  needed,  enlargements  to  the  rear  only 
were  permitted  in  dweUings,  whose  frontage  on  a 
street  or  road  invariably  took  up  an  equal  space  and 
presented  a  uniform  appearance. 

Carl  had  observed  this  house  on  the  way  out  to 
his  work  in  the  morning,  for  a  great  vine  with  a 
multitude  of  rich  red  roses  clambered  luxuriantly 
over  the  low  porch,  in  front  of  which  was  a  bed  of 
variegated  and  brilliant  flowers  of  a  kind  he  had 
never  seen  before.  The  perfume  of  the  flowers 
floated  out  to  them  on  the  roadside,  and  Carl,  who 
was  keenly  sensitive  to  all  impressions  of  nature's 
beauty,  inhaled  it  with  deep  drawn  breath. 

They  had  turned  in  from  the  road  and  as  they 
neared  the  entrance  a  young  woman  emerged  from 
the  door,  but  upon  perceiving  them  stopped  and 
stood  waiting.  The  rose-vine  wreathing  around 
and  above  her  on  the  trellis  work  framed  her  as  in 
a  picture.  Carl  stood  and  gazed  with  astonished 
eyes.  Her  hair  was  of  a  rich,  deep  chestnut,  drawn 
lightly  back  from  her  forehead  and  coiled  into  heavy, 
glossy  folds;  her  eyes  of  a  deep  blue  and  of  a  frank 
openness  under  strikingly  arched  and  delicate  eye- 
brows. Her  features  were  mobile,  and  not  markedly 
regular,  though  you  could  not  point  out  precisely 
why.  Her  figure  was  a  perfect  poise  of  grace  as  she 
stood  in  an  expectant  attitude,  lithe  and  supple,  and, 
though  slender,  rounded  into  the  fullness  of  woman- 
hood.    The  slightest  tinge  of  color  softened  her 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  39 

cheeks  in  a  complexion  smooth  as  ivory  and  as  deli- 
cate as  a  May  blossom. 

The  women  Carl  had  seen  in  the  Spielgarten  could 
lay  little  claim  to  beauty  and  this  apparition  of  love- 
liness startled  him.  He  stood  for  the  moment  spell- 
bound, gazing  with  avid  eyes,  when  Denis'  "An'  is 
it  you,  Fraulein  Mina?"  brought  him  to  himself. 
"Sure,  it's  that  glad  I  am  to  see  you,  for  the  sight 
of  ye  would  make  an  ould  man  young  and  a  cripple 
skip.  An'  it's  purtier  ye  grow  every  blessed  minute. 
The  flowers  themselves  are  rags  to  ye,  me  darlin'," 
said  the  gallant  Denis  as  they  advanced  to  the  door. 

At  the  sound  of  Denis'  voice  the  young  woman, 
with  a  smile  of  recognition  that  lighted  up  her  face 
into  an  even  rarer  beauty,  it  seemed  to  Carl,  came 
from  her  frame  of  roses  and  with  outstretched  hands 
welcomed  Denis  with  naive  frankness. 

"Indeed,  I'm  glad  to  see  you,  Denis,"  she  said, 
"and  father  will  be  glad,  too,  I  know.  Where  have 
you  been  so  long,  since  we  last  saw  you?" 

"Beyont  the  town  there  for  these  two  months  gone 
amongst  the  timbers  at  the  head  of  the  valley.  Sure 
It's  a  long  time,  but  the  longer  the  tim.e  the  sweeter 
the  welcome."  And  turning  to  Carl,  who  had  stood 
back  the  meanwhile,  "Here  is  a  recroot  I  found  up 
there, — Herr  Runder,  Fraulein  Mina." 

The  young  woman  held  out  her  hand  to  Carl,  say- 
ing with  simple  sincerity,  "Welcome  to  the  Spiel- 
garten, Herr  Runder." 

"It  was  while  choppin'  the  timber  up  there  that  I 


40  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

came  across  the  ]ad,"  continued  Denis.  "He'd  just 
been  inthrojuced  to  this  part  of  the  wurruld  by  the 
sojers  beyont,  and  a  sorry  figure  he  was  with  their 
il'igint  ways  of  inthroduction,"  added  Denis,  with  a 
grim  smile. 

The  look  of  sympathy  which  Carl  received  from 
Fraulein  Mina  more  than  compensated  for  Denis' 
sally. 

"Where's  the  father?"'  inquired  Denis,  "and  it's  a 
bit  dhry  we  are,  Fraulein,  what  wid  workin'  and 
talkln',  for  Carl  here  can  orrate  like  Dan  O'Connell 
himseF,  and  I've  a  bit  of  tongue  of  me  own," 

Mina  smiled,  and  to  Denis'  inquiry  about  her 
father  answered  that  he  had  just  gone  to  the  barn 
and  would  return  presently.,  and  asked  them  into 
the  house  where  Denis'  thirst  might  find  suitable 
relief,-  After  they  had  entered  and  Mina  had  left 
the  room  to  fetch  the  liquid  refreshment,  Carl,  who 
h.d  ■^-•d  little  chance  to  say  anything  between  Denis' 
volubility,  turned  to  the  latter  to  express  his  aston- 
isinncnt  ac  the  beauty  of  the  young  girl,  pouring  out 
a  flood  of  admiration,  which  Denis  took  v.iih  the 
patronizing  air  of  one  who  had  known  it  this  long 
time.  \ 

"Sure,"  he  said.  "I've  known  her  from  a  bit  of  a 
colleen  and  seen  her  bud  from  a  wee  thing  so  high. 
Twould  be  hard  to  bate  her  I'm  thinkin',  in  the 
whole  wurruld  beyont  the  mountains  there,"  and 
Denis'  long  arm  flourished  in  a  wide  circle  to  indi- 
cate the  entire  round  of  the  globe.     "There's  only 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  41 

one  slip  of  a  girl  I  ever  knew/'  and  here  Denis 
heaved  a  great  sigh  and  his  voice  grew  softer,  "that 
could  top  up  to  her  at  all,  at  all,  and  that  was  little 
Nora  Murphy  in  the  ould  counthry." 

But  Denis'  further  dilation  on  the  one  rival  to 
Mina's  charms  in  the  whole  world  was  interrupted 
by  the  latter's  return  with  a  tankard  of  rich  beer, 
and  by  the  entrance  at  the  same  time  of  Mina's 
father. 

iCarl  had  never  seen  a  sturdier  and  nobler  speci- 
men of  manhood  than  John  Clausen,  who  stood  a 
full  six  feet,  broad  of  shoulder  and  still  strong  of 
frame,  despite  his  sixty-five  years,  and  with  little  in- 
dication of  age  in  his  appearance  save  for  a  profuse 
sprinkling  of  gray  In  his  beard.  His  eyes,  like 
Mina's,  were  a  deep  blue  and  clear,  and  his  manner 
was  frank  and  hearty.  He  'welcomed  Carl  warmly 
and  sympathetically  and  began  at  once  to  ply  him 
with  questions  as  to  the  present  conditions  In  the 
world  beyond  the  mountains,  showing  Interest  in 
everything  and  commenting  shrewdly  upon  Carl's 
answers,^ 

Carl  graphically  pictured  the  situation  In  Europe 
as  it  appeared  to  his  Socialist  eyes,  narrated  the 
story  of  his  attempt  to  overthrow  the  government  of 
Unterwald,  the  unfortunate  accident  which  had  be- 
trayed him  Into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  his  trans- 
portation and  his  entrance  into  the  Spieigarten. 
Mina  sat  by,  an  eager  and  sympathetic  listener.  A 
high  color  mounted  to  her  cheek,  and  a  deep  light 


42  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

burned  in  her  eyes  as  Carl  poured  out  his  tale. 
Herr  Clausen  listened  with  a  great  interest,  here 
and  there  interrogating  or  commenting.  But  Denis, 
who  had  heard  it  all  before,  gave  but  idle  attention 
with  now  and  then  a  word  or  two  of  banter,  which 
called  forth  sympathetic  protests  from  Mina. 

By  the  time  that  Cad  had  finished  his  narrative 
and  satisfied  Herr  Clausen's  queries,  night  had  fallen 
and  Denis  rose,  declaring  that  they  must  take  their 
way  back  to  Marxville,  which  lay  a  good  mile  to 
the  north  of  Clausen's  house.  As  they  w^ere  depart- 
ing, Herr  Clausen  laid  his  hand  kindly  on  Carl's 
shoulder,  and  bade  him  come  again  and  frequently, 
and  to  her  father's  invitation,  Mina  added  hers.] 
When  the  young  girl's  hand  touched  Carl's,  as  the 
party  bade  their  good-nights,  on  the  rose-embowered 
porch,  Carl  felt  a  strange  thrill.  The  heavy  scent 
of  the  roses  hung  in  the  night  air,  and  the  stars 
above  shone  down  with  a  thousand  soft  lights,  that 
laid  a  mellow  spell  upon  the  scene,  as  he  passed  down 
the  garden  out  into  the  road,  and  Denis  and  he  took 
their  way  back  to  Marxville. 


CHAPTER  VI 

(^  John  Clausen  had  been  an  inhabitant  of  the 
Spielgarten  for  nearly  thirty-five  years,  having  ar- 
rived fifteen  years  after  the  foundation  of  the 
colony.  He  was  an  Englishman  who,  as  a  young 
man,  had  gone  to  the  German  University  of  Heidel- 
berg to  take  a  special  course  in  international  law. 
While  there  he  had  become  interested  in  Socialism 
through  some  fellow  students,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  he  found  himself  a  member  of  a  vast 
secret  Socialist  society,  whose  branches  were  spread 
throughout  the  entire  continent  and  actively  engaged 
in  conspiracies  against  all  existing  governments. 

The  Socialist  lodges  were  in  alliance  with  all  the 
elements  of  discontent  throughout  Europe  in  the 
revolutionary  period  of  the  second  quarter  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  which  culminated  in  the  disorders 
and  outbreaks  of  the  year  1848.  Clausen  was  ap- 
prehended, v/ith  others,  and  transported  to  Schlect- 
land  and  thrust  into  the  Spielgarten.  The  colony 
was  at  this  time  gradually  settling  down  to  those 
conditions  which  were  now  dominant,  viz.,  a  level  of 
equality  amongst  its  people  and  the  complete  su- 
premacy of  the  State. 

43 


44  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

Two  years  after  his  arrival  Clausen  married  the 
daughter  of  one  of  the  original  colonists.  His  wife 
died,  leaving  him  a  daughter,  Wilhelmina,  a  child 
four  years  of  age,  on  whom  the  widower  poured 
cut  the  deep  affection  of  a  strong  nature.  Wil- 
helmina, shortened  familiarly  to  Mina,  was  to  John 
Clausen  the  apple  of  his  eye.  As  she  grew  older 
he  withdrew  from  the  active  political  life,  into  which 
he  had  eagerly  participated  during  the  first  years 
of  his  residence  in  the  colony,  and  devoted  himself 
to  her  care  and  training  what  time  he  could  spare 
from  his  farming,  the  occupation  which  from  the 
first  he  had  followed  in  the  Spielgarten. 

Mina  had  been  educated  in  the  schools  of  the 
Spielgarten,  but  her  father,  a  man  of  university 
training,  had  supplemented  her  studies  by  private 
instruction  and  direction,  storing  her  mind  with  all 
he  could  remember  of  the  literature  and  art  and  his- 
tory of  Europe.  Knowledge  of  this  nature  was  care- 
fully excluded  from  the  schools  of  the  Spielgarten  as 
unsuited  to  the  purposes  of  a  Socialist  community 
'  whose  end  was  to  form  a  people  on  a  purely  com- 
munistic ideal,  for  the  literature  and  art  of  Europe 
had  sprung  from  individualistic  sources  and  breathed 
the  spirit  of  individualism, 

i  From  the  start  Mina's  father  had  impressed  upon 
the  child  the  necessity  of  reticence  and  secrecy  in  this 
matter,  for  he  feared  the  interference  of  the  State 
and  the  transferrence  of  the  custody  of  Mina  to  other 
hands  if  It  became  known  that  he  had  Instructed  her 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  45 

in  forbidden  things.  Himself  a  man  of  imagination 
and  culture,  he  could  not  bear  that  his  child  should 
grow  up  without  the  knowledge  of  what  in  so  many 
respects  was  to  him  a  source  of  delight  and  conso- 
lation. 

In  John  Clausen,  Carl  Runder  found  a  man  of 
broad  and  cultivated  sympathies,  and  a  close  friend- 
ship soon  ripened  between  them,  the  elder  man,  in 
the  experience  of  his  years  and  the  settled  gravity  of 
his  character,  proving  a  salutary  check,  as  events 
developed  themselves,  upon  the  younger  man's  often 
rash  impetuosity. 

As  time  went  on  Carl  found  himself  a  frequent 
visitor  at  the  farmhouse,  Mina  always  welcomed 
him  graciously  and  Clausen  with  much  heartiness. 
Here  was  the  one  place  In  the  Spielgarten  where  he 
met  with  kindred  spirits;  for  outside  of  Clausen 
and  Mina  and  Denis,  Carl  had  found  the  people  of 
the  Spielgarten  in  some  way  alien  to  him.  He  could 
not  at  first  quite  explain  it  to  himself,  but  after  his 
enthusiasm  had  ebbed  away,  he  began  to  realize  that, 
though  here  was  the  practical  exemplification  of  what 
he  had  so  long  dreamed,  a  people  whose  life  in  all 
its  phases,  even  the  most  intimate,  was  passed  in 
strict  conformity  with  the  principles  of  Socialism,  and 
where  the  hated  tyranny  of  inequality  was  absolutely 
abolished,  still  there  was  something  lacking  in  it  all, 
which  took  him  a  long  time  to  formulate  in  his  own 
mind.  It  made  him  restive  and  impatient,  and  it 
was  only  at  John  Clausen's  house  that  the  irritation 


46  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

and  the  feeling  of  isolation  which  had  lately  taken 
possession  of  him  were  alleviated  and  allayed. 
I  With  Clausen  he  spoke  his  mind  freely;  with  oth- 
ers, he  found  that  there  was  no  possibility  of  dis- 
cussion, for  Socialism  in  the  Spielgarten  had  settled 
into  an  accepted  fact  on  an  immovable  basis.  Ways 
and  means  had  sublimated  long  ago  into  stereotyped 
conditions.  It  was  against  these  that  Carl  began  to 
feel  he  was  out  of  sympathy.  He  had  ideas  of  his 
own;  but  the  moment  he  Broached  them  he  was  met 
with  a  shrug  and  a  stare,  or  the  remark  that  the 
Spielgarten  had  passed  out  of  the  stage  of  experi- 
ment. 

With  Clausen,  however,  he  could  and  did  talk, 
for  he  discovered  in  Mina's  father  a  certain  sym- 
pathy with  his  own  views,  though  the  latter  was 
circufnspect  and  prudent  in  their  expression,  and 
urged  Carl  to  be  cautious  in  giving  utterance  to  his 
ideas,  as  the  State  authorities  were  jealous  of  any- 
thing like  political  discussion  or  agitation. 

"Some  years  ago  "  said  Clausen  in  one  of  his  talks 
with  Carl,  "a  recruit  attempted  what  he  called  a  re- 
form, and  his  ideas  were  in  many  respects  yours, 
Herr  Runder.  He  gathered  a  small  following 
amongst  other  recruits  who  were  then  more  numer- 
ous than  they  are  now.  The  result  was  that  he  was 
finally  apprehended  for  treason,  tried  before  the 
Council  of  Particular  Welfare,  and  condemned  to 
death.  You  see,  the  Socialist  as  well  as  the  Indi- 
vidualistic State  takes  radical  means  to  defend  it- 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  47 

self  against  innovators,"  and  Herr  Clausen  smiled 
gravely  at  Carl's  expression  of  surprise. 

"But  is  there  no  freedom  of  ideas  and  speech 
within  proper  limits  in  the  Socialist  State?"  ex- 
postulated Carl,  "Surely  this  is  a  tyranny  as  bad 
as  that  against  which  Socialism  is  a  protest." 

"You  must  admit,"  replied  Clausen,  "that  the 
State  must  defend  itself  against  innovations  that  it 
considers  dangerous  to  its  safety.  When  Socialism 
has  become  an  established  system  it  must  protect 
itself  against  revolutionary  tendencies  or  overt  acts 
that  would  seek  to  undermine  it." 

"I  do  admit  it,  of  course,"  declared  Carl,  "but 
ideas  quite  in  keeping  with  Socialism  are  surely  not 
revolutionary,  and  when  those  ideas  which  I  hold  and 
ways  such  as  I  would  propose  are  simply  better 
means  to  the  Socialist  ideal,  it  is  only  a  despotism 
that  would  prohibit  their  expression  or  their  agita- 
tion among  the  people.  I  am  heart  and  soul  a  Social- 
ist, and  I  want  to  see  Socialism  realized  in  all  its 
completeness  and  beauty.  Here,  you  must  confess, 
Socialism  has  fallen  into  a  rut  of  commonplace  and 
apathy.  I  know,  Herr  Clausen,  I  can  speak  freely 
to  you." 

"I  am  afraid  that  you  are  right,"  answered  Herr 
Clausen,  "but  first  let  me  say  a  word  to  your  first 
statement:  Who  is  to  determine  in  a  Socialist  com- 
munity what  ideas  are  in  keeping  and  what  means 
are  fit?  Surely  not  the  individual,  but  the  State  it- 
self.   You  may  call  it  despotism,  but  it  Is  the  logical 


48  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

outcome  of  your  own  principle.  A  government  es- 
tablished on  the  communistic  idea  must  perforce  de- 
fend its  own  integrity  against  individualism  of  any 
kind,  and  be  the  supreme  judge  and  arbiter  of  what 
is  or  is  not  Socialism,  and  this,  of  course,  implies  the 
right  of  decision  as  to  ways  and  means." 

("But  surely,"  protested  Carl,  "the  conditions 
which  exist  here  are  not  the  true  result  of  Socialism. 
This  apathy,  this  indifference  to  everything  except 
the  mere  routine  of  living,  this  dead  level  of  ex- 
istence, is  simply  an  arrested  phase  of  Socialism. 
Its  ideal  lies  beyond.  In  the  Spielgarten  the  stimu- 
lus to  progress  seems  to  be  wanting.  It  is  this 
that  .   .   ." 

"Yes,"  interrupted  Clausen,  "the  stimulus  to  prog- 
ress does  seem  to  be  lacking.     There's  the  rub." 

"It  Is  this,"  continued  Carl,  not  heeding  Clausen's 
remark,  "that  I  deplore,  it  Is  this  that  I  would  like 
to  supply;  to  rouse  the  people  to  a  desire  for  higher 
things.  \Here  Is  where  the  leaders  fall." 

"Leaders!"  said  Clausen,  with  a  half-smile,  "you 
forget  there  are  no  leaders  in  a  Socialist  State. 
Leadership  would  mean  inequality,  my  dear  friend, 
and  that  would  plunge  us  at  once  into  Individualism." 

"No;  not  so,"  answered  Carl.  "I  cannot  admit 
that;  Socialism  is  not  the  denial  or  negation  of  differ- 
ences amongst  men,  but  the  assertion  and  the  prac- 
tice of  equality  in  the  awards  of  labor,  the  impartial 
distribution  of  the  common  product  of  labor  to  each 
one  ahke.     It  is  the  principle  and  method  of  a  com- 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  49 

mon  justice  in  the  State  whereby  the  weak  are  pro- 
tected from  the  exploitation  of  the  strong,  the  many 
from  the  tyranny  of  the  few,  who  would  inevitably 
rob  them  of  the  fruits  of  their  toil  in  an  individualis- 
tic system. 

"You  strike  here  the  very  root  of  the  matter," 
said  Clausen.  "That  is  the  very  pith  of  the  difEcult}'^ 
which  unfolded  itself  to  me  after  I  had  been  here  a 
short  time  only." 

"Well,  what  is  that?"  asked  Carl,  as  Clausen 
paused. 

"It  came  home  to  me  In  my  own  case  first,"  con- 
tinued Clausen.  "I  was  naturally  enthusiastic  when 
I  first  arrived,  as  you  were,  and  filled  with  a  great 
zeal  to  build  up  that  ideal  which  you  now  would. 
But  an  argument  best  comes  home  to  a  man  in  prac- 
tical affairs.  I  expended  my  efforts  zealously  at  first, 
but,  I  confess,  it  was  not  long  before  I  found  my  zeal 
slowly  oozing  away  and  my  diligence  slackening.  I 
found  that  the  result  did  not  correspond  to  them. 
I  did  not  reap  what  I  sowed." 

"Pardon  me,"  interrupted  Carl,  "but  was  not  that 
on  your  part  the  selfishness  of  individualism  assert- 
ing itself?  The  very  essence  of  Socialism  Is  to  sac- 
rifice oneself  for  the  common  good;  to  labor  not 
for  oneself,  but  the  community;  to  put  out  one's  best 
effort  that  all  may  profit  by  It  equally,  and  not  one- 
self alone." 

"I  confess,"  answered  Clausen  a  little  dryly,  "that 
I   found  human  nature  lamentably  weak.      It  Is   a 


so  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

discovery  I  never  made  until  I  came  to  the  Spiel- 
garten." 

"Pardon  me  again,  this  was  your  failure,  the  over- 
assertion  of  individualism,"  declared  Carl  with 
emphasis;  "you  surely  cannot  lay  this  to  the  charge 
of  Socialism,  whose  ideal  is  the  direct  opposite  of 
what  you  have  just  admitted  to  be  the  defect  in  the 
individual." 

"True,"  answered  Clausen,  "but  it  was  just  in  the 
principle  of  rpy  failure  that  the  present  common- 
place level  prevailing  in  the  Spielgarten  is  due." 

"How  is  that;  I  do  not  see  it." 

"You  said  a  moment  ago,"  Clausen  went  on,  "that 
Socialism  meant  the  equal  distribution  of  all  awards 
of  labor  to  each  alike  without  distinction;  that,  how- 
ever varied  either  in  quantity  or  quality  the  source 
of  production  in  the  individual,  the  award  was  to  be 
exactly  alike  to  each." 

"Yes,  that  is  what  I  said,  that's  the  Socialist 
basis." 

"The  only  incentive  then  to  the  Individual  in 
the  communistic  State  is  the  common  good,  is  it 
not?" 

"Most  certainly;  what  else  should  it  be?" 

"It  may  also  be  said,"  continued  Clausen,  "that 
he  only  result  of  individualistic  labor  will  be  what 
;s  comprised  in  the  common  good.  With  that  fixed 
in  his  mind  as  the  end  of  his  work,  the  individual  will 
naturally  aim  at  that  alone,  and  what  may  be  be- 
yond that,  he  will  not  strive  for." 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  51: 

"But  what  is  there  beyond  that?"  demanded  Carl, 
"is  not  everything  comprised  in  that?" 

"Well,"  answered  Clausen,  smiling,  "look  around 
you  here  and  tell  me  what  you  find  in  the  Spiel- 
garten." 

"But  this  is  not  a  fair  example,"  insisted  Carl. 
"Here  we  have  the  common  good  reduced  to  its 
lowest  level." 

"And  why?"  asked  Clausen. 

"Because  no  ideal  of  better  is  proposed  to  the  peo- 
ple; because  there  is  no  stimulus  here  to  strive  for 
something  higher.  The  people  are  left  to  an 
apathetic  indifference  by  those  who  should  strive  to 
lift  them  to  a  higher  place." 

"I  suppose  you  mean  by  those  whose  conceptions 
and  ideas  are  higher  and  farther  reaching  than  the 
conception  of  the  people  in  general." 

"Yes,  men  like  yourself  and  myself,  if  I  may  say 
so,"  answered  Carl. 

"True,"  said  Clausen,  "but  we  have  drawn  our 
ideals  from  the  outside,  from  an  ideal  which  we 
found  and  brought  with  us,  from  a  system,  which 
grew  up  under  the  impulses  of  individualism.  We 
have  drawn  our  conception  from  another  state  of 
society,  and  we  would  create  out  of  the  material  of 
Socialism  an  ideal  condition  which,  as  far  as  we 
have  known,  has  been  built  out  of  quite  other  stuff. 
You  lay  down  as  the  stimulating  force  of  the  social- 
ist community  a  principle  of  differentiation  of  which 
Socialism  itself  knows  nothing.     You  and  I  would 


52  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

seek  to  lift  the  people  from  the  dead  level  at  which 
they  exist  by  virtue  of  the  individualistic  forces  we 
find  In  ourselves.  Now  these  are  not  a  part  of  their 
makeup.  We  must  take  Socialism  at  its  own  level 
and  the  people  as  they  are.^^ 

"But  are  you  not  assuming  all  this?"  answered 
Carl.  "Why  do  you  speak  of  Socialism  at  its  own 
level?" 

"Because  I  have  lived  in  a  community  in  which  I 
see  the  effect  of  the  Socialist  principle  on  two  gen- 
erations born  and  bred  under  its  domination.  The 
influence  of  the  outside  element,  as  represented  by 
you  and  me,  who  are  recruits  and  not  native-born, 
has  died  out.  In  the  beginning  that  influence  was 
felt,  but  it  has  been  constantly  eliminated,  as  a  dan- 
gerous factor,  and  such  it  would  be  here.  We  have 
educated  our  children  in  Socialism,  pure  and  simple, 
with  the  result  that  they  possess  no  other  idea  of 
the  State.  They  have  grown  up  with  the  notion  that 
there  is  no  real  distinction  between  man  and  man, 
that  all  differences  between  Individuals  are  purely 
artificial,  that  a  community  of  equal  awards  Is  the 
sole  end  of  government.  The  result  has  been  that 
individualism  has  practically  atrophied.  A  com- 
mon level  for  all,  and  that  means  in  practice  the 
plane  of  the  average  if  not  the  lowest,  obtains.  Ef- 
fort is,  therefore,  limited  to  the  common  plane.  To 
strive  for  more  would  be  futile.  Indeed,  the  main 
spring  of  individualistic  effort,  viz.,  the  distinctive 
reward  of  the  Individual  is  altogether  wanting  here. 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  53 

The  moment  you  attempt  to  differentiate  the  com- 
munity by  your  ideals  brought  from  the  outside 
world,  you  begin  to  introduce  the  one  intolerable 
element  in  the  Socialist  State,  the  principle  of  in- 
dividualism." 

"Permit  me  to  finish,"  for  Carl  had  started  to  in- 
terrupt Clausen.  "What  I  am  describing  is  the 
practical  result  of  the  working  of  the  Socialist  sys- 
tem upon  those  who  are  brought  up  under  its  regime. 
The  people  of  the  Spielgarten,  outside  of  the  re- 
cruits, know  nothing  beyond  their  present  state  of 
existence,  and  care  nothing.  A  moment  ago  you 
said  that  Socialism  does  not  deny  or  negate  the  dif- 
ference betv/een  individuals.  That  is  Socialism  In 
your  theory,  which  is  a  remnant  of  the  individualism 
which  you  have  known  in  the  outside  world,  and  re- 
mains like  a  fly  in  the  ointment.  But  Socialism  does  ^ 
in  its  practical  results  reduce  individualism  to  so  j 
small  a  minimum  that  It  Is  in  fact  eliminated.  I  ' 
have  carefully  observed  and  watched  the  working 
of  the  principle  here,  and  my  conclusion  is  that 
human  nature  responds  only  to  the  end  which  It 
knows,  that  human  effort  extends  only  as  far  as  the 
possibility  within  its  reach.  Deny  to  the  individual 
the  result  of  that  particular  effort  which  the  Indi- 
vidual alone  can  enjoy,  and  he  ceases  to  aim  at  it. 
Limit  the  Individual  to  that  common  result,  which  all 
alike  can  possess,  and  he  rests  satisfied  with  It.  Your 
assertion  that  there  can  be  Inequality  in  the  effort 
and  source  of  production  and  yet  perfect  equality 


54  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

in  the  distribution  of  award  carries  with  it  a  radical 
flaw.  It  is  the  possibility  of  the  achievement,  the 
end  In  view,  which  governs  human  activities  and 
when  that  end  is  a  common  result  without  distinction, 
the  effort  minimizes  itself  to  equivalent  means.  The 
idea  of  equality  in  distribution  begets  the  idea  of 
equality  in  the  means;  and  effort  inevitably  adjusts 
Itself  to  its  possible  results.  Socialism  with  the  aim 
of  perfect  equality,  and  in  the  Spielgarten  you  see  it 
in  practice,  soon  eliminates  all  differentiation  in  in- 
dividuals and  so  equalizes  the  sources  of  producing.'* 

"But  I  would  make  that  common  aim  higher," 
urged  Carl,  I  would  raise  the  common  level  by  pre- 
senting and  inculcating  a  higher  common  ideal." 

"Yes,  you  would,"  retorted  Clausen,  i"you  who 
comprehend  a  loftier  range  of  ideas,  a  wider  scheme 
of  life;  but  all  this  is  your  individualistic  conception 
drawn  from  elsewhere,  and  when  you  would  Inject 
it  into  the  common  life  and  so  move  it  to  a  higher 
level,  you  are  doing  It  by  force  of  an  individualism 
which  Socialism  cannot  recognize.  Yours  In  reality 
is  the  cardinal  doctrine  of  individualism,  viz.,  that 
progress  has  Its  well  springs  in  the  distinction  found 
In  individuals,  and  that  the  higher  and  stronger  in- 
dividual force  works  downward  from  above  upon 
the  masses  below,  and  I  confess  that  when  we  read 
history,  we  find  that  all  movements  of  human  prog- 
ress have  their  origin  in  the  superior,  the  personal 
achievement  of  power,  wealth,  fame  or  what  not. 
But  it  Is  just  this  individualistic  result  that  Socialism 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  r^s 

eliminates  from  its  progress  by  denying  unequal  dis- 
tribution in  its  awards ;  it  refuses  all  scope  to  simply 
individualistic  ambition  and  so  cuts  off  the  very 
source  which  supplies  the  power  of  advance.  Here 
in  the  Spielgarten  no  distinction  of  persons  is  tol- 
erated; the  awards  of  labor  are  absolutely  equalized. 
The  apathy  and  indifference  you  witness  here  is  the 
natural  result.  You  cannot  rouse  the  people  to  an 
ideal  of  v/hich  they  know  nothing  nor  would  you  be 
suffered  to  preach  your  doctrine.  Believe  me,  I 
learned  the  lesson  bitterly  before  I  had  been  long 
In  the  Spielgarten,  and  soon  realized  my  own  impo- 
tence." 


CHAPTER  VII 

'  Carl  was  impressed,  but  not  convinced,  and  had 
started  to  reply  when  he  was  interrupted  by  the  ar- 
rival of  a  stranger  whose  shadow  fell  athwart  the 
open  door  as  Herr  Clausen  uttered  his  last  words. 
Mina,  who  had  been  sitting  by,  knitting,  as  an  in- 
terested listener,  started  up  and  stood  for  a  moment 
irresolute.  The  man  who  had  intruded  so  abruptly 
stood  in  the  doorway. 

"Ah,"  he  said  in  an  unctuous  tone,  holding  his 
hands  in  front  of  him  with  the  fingers  touching,  "I 
see  I  have  interrupted  you.  Pardon  me,  Herr 
Clausen,  but  I  knocked  and,  not  being  heard  in  the 
interest  of  your  conversation,  took  the  liberty  of  en- 
tering unbidden.  Ah,  Fraulein,"  he  added,  turning 
to  Mina  and  advancing  into  the  room  with  an  in- 
creasing unction  in  his  voice.  "How  do  I  find  you? 
But  it  is  needless  to  ask;  such  health  speaks  in  the 
roses  of  your  cheeks  and  in  the  brightn§«s  of  your 
eyes,"  and  he  took  Mina's  proffered  hand  in  both  his 
own  with  a  lingering  clasp. 

Carl  felt  an  instinctive  aversion  from  the  man  at 
once.     The  voice  seemed  masked  and  the  manner 

56 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  57 

subtly  insinuating.  A  head  too  large  for  an  under- 
sized body  gave  him  an  incongruous  and  an  almost 
ridiculous  appearance  at  first;  but  this  was  immedi- 
ately counteracted  upon  seeing  the  face  with  its 
heavy  jaws  protruding  somewhat,  a  long  acquiline 
nose  and  eyebrows  overhanging  small,  ferret-like 
eyes,  whose  color  was  invisible,  so  deep  set  were  they 
in  the  shadow  of  the  bushy  eyebrows.  It  was  a  face 
of  power,  but  with  something  sinister  in  it,  and  as 
Carl  gazed  he  felt  a  positive  loathing  come  over  him. 
Meantime  Herr  Clausen  had  risen  and  welcomed  the 
intruder,  whom  he  saluted  as  Herr  Schmidt,  with 
gravity  and  something  of  distance  in  his  manner. 

"Ah,  and  whom  have  we  here?"  said  Herr 
Schmidt,  turning  to  Carl  after  Herr  Clausen's  wel- 
come, a  sort  of  purr  in  his  voice,  looking  at  the 
young  man  keenly. 

"This  is  Herr  Runder,  Herr  Schmidt,"  answered 
Clausen,  introducing  the  two  men.  "Herr  Runder 
is  a  recent  recruit  to  the  Spielgarten." 

"Ah,  indeed,"  ejaculated  Herr  Schmidt  as  his 
brows  closed  over  his  eyes  so  as  to  make  them  al- 
most invisible.  "And  how  do  you  like  the  Spiel- 
garten, Herr  Runder?  Does  it  come  up  to  your 
hopes?" 

Carl  flushed,  hesitating,  for  a  moment,  and  was 
about  to  answer,  when  Mina  broke  in  suddenly: 
"Herr  Runder  has  scarcely  had  time;  everything  is 
very  strange  to  him  yet.  It  takes  one  some  time  to 
get  used  to   so  great  a   change."     Herr  Schmidt 


58  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

pursed  his  great  lips,  looking  intently  at  Carl,  when 
Herr  Clausen,  catching  up  Mina's  clue,  went  on: 

"It  is,  indeed,  a  great  change  for  a  man  from 
beyond  the  mountains  when  he  first  arrives  in  the 
Spielgarten.  I  remember  how  strange  it  seemed  to 
me — and  you  yourself  passed  through  the  same  ex- 
perience, no  doubt,  Herr  Schmidt.  But  won't  you 
sit  down?  And  Mina,  bring  some  beer.  Herr 
Schmidt  must  be  thirsty,  the  day  is  warm.  Did  you 
come  far?" 

"From  Marxville,  where  I  have  been  attending 
a  meeting  of  the  Particular  Council,"  answered  Herr 
Schmidt,  as  he  took  the  proffered  seat. 

As  Mina  left  the  room  to  get  the  beer,  she  threw 
a  significant  glance  at  Carl  and  laid  her  finger  on  her 
lips.  Carl  felt  grateful,  but  scarcely  needed  the 
warning,  for  he  had  already  gathered  that  Herr 
Schmidt  was  a  man  before  whom  it  might  be  dan- 
gerous to  express  his  views,  and  his  sinister  manner 
repelled  him  greatly.  Mina  presently  returned  with 
the  refreshments  and  then  left  the  room,  with  an 
excuse  that  some  household  duties  called  her  away. 
(A  moment  after  Carl  rose  and  bade  the  two  men 
adieu,  saying  that  he  must  betake  himself  home- 
ward. 

As  he  left  he  noticed  that  Herr  Schmidt  again 
scrutinized  him  keenly  with  something  of  a  sneer 
lurking  about  his  heavy  lips.  When  he  got  into  the 
open  air  he  instinctively  shook  himself,  as  if  he  had 
suffered  some  subtle  contamination  in  the  man's  pres- 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  59 

ence.  MIna  was  standing  at  the  further  end  of  the 
garden  and  beckoned  him  as  he  came  out.  There 
was  a  faint  distress  in  her  face  as  he  approached. 

"Come,"  she  said,  in  a  low  voice.  "Come,  I  wish 
to  speak  with  you  a  moment,  Herr  Runder;  let  us 
go  to  the  back  of  the  garden  where  we  may  not  be 
observed." 

Carl  wondered,  but  followed.  When  they  had 
reached  the  end  of  the  garden  which  bordered  on  a 
little  stream,  Mina  seated  herself  on  a  bench  built 
around  a  tree  on  the  bank  and  motioned  to  Carl  to 
sit  beside  her. 

"Herr  Runder,"  she  said,  "I  am  going  to  make 
bold  to  ask  a  promise  of  you.  Will  you  promise 
me?"  and  she  looked  with  grave  eyes  into  his. 

"Why,  Frauleinl"  exclaimed  Carl,  "I  would  be 
only  too  pleased  to  grant  you  any  favor  in  my  power. 
But  what  may  I  be  able  to  do  for  you?" 

"Well,  it  is  for  yourself  mostly,"  answered  Mina, 
"that  I  ask  it.  You  are,"  she  hesitated  a  moment,  a 
faint  blush  stealing  into  her  face,  "you  are  very  im- 
petuous, father  says,  and  It  Is  dangerous  to  speak 
too  freely  In  the  Splelgarten.  And  I  want  to  ask  you 
not  to  talk  before  others  as  you  speak  to  father  and 
me.     It  would  bring  you  into  trouble." 

"Dear  Fraulein,"  said  Carl,  "you  are  very  kind. 
I  see  it  Is  for  myself  you  speak.  Indeed  I  am  grate- 
ful, and  I  will  be  careful.     I  promise  you." 

\"And  then,"  added  Mina,  "be  careful  to  say  noth- 
ing before  Herr  Schmidt,"  and  she  pointed  towards 


6o  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

the  house  with  a  deprecatory  gesture.  "He  Is  a 
dangerous  man  and  a  very  strict  Socialist;  it  was  he 
who  denounced  the  man  of  whom  father  told  you, 
and  had  him  executed." 

"I  felt  repelled  by  him  as  soon  as  I  saw  him,"  said 
Carl,  frowning  at  the  thought  of  Herr  Schmidt. 
"Yes,  I  promise  that  I  will  not  express  my  views 
before  him." 

"And  you  will  be  very,  very  careful?"  Mina's 
voice  conveyed  a  world  of  solicitude,  and  Carl  felt 
his  heart  beat  faster. 

"Mina,  Mina,"  he  cried  with  a  sudden  impulse, 
and  seizing  her  hand  kissed  it  fervently,  "and  do 
you  care,  do  you  care?" 

Mina  drew  back,  startled  and  blushing,  and  rose 
to  her  feet  at  his  impetuosity.  "I  have  offended  you. 
Forgive  me.     I  presumed " 

Mina  stood  in  agitation  with  her  hands  covering 
her  face,  her  bosom  heaving. 

"Oh,  forgive  me,  Fraulein,  I  forgot  myself," 
urged  Carl.  She  stood  for  a  moment  in  an  effort 
to  control  herself.  Carl  gazed  at  her  with  a  des- 
perate yearning  in  his  heart  and  yet  fearful  that  he 
had  spoken  hastily. 

"Yes,  I  do  care,"  she  said  tremulously,  "but  it 
seems  so  strange,  and — and "  her  voice  broke. 

Carl  was  at  her  side  in  an  instant  and,  snatching 
her  hands  away  from  her  averted  face,  held  them  in 
his  own  and  drew  her,  half  reluctant,  to  himself. 
"Mina,  Mina !"  he  exclaimed  fervently,  "I  love  you! 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  6i 

I  love  you !  I  have  loved  you  from  the  very  first, 
from  the  day  I  first  saw  you  on  the  porch  there.  I 
have  been  afraid  to  tell  you.  I  did  not  know  you 
cared  for  me.  You  seemed  so  reserved  and  distant. 
I  love  you,  I  love  you,  Mina,"  he  went  on  passion- 
ately, "say  that  you  love  me." 

He  had  clasped  her  in  his  arms,  and  felt  her 
tremble  in  his  embrace.  She  did  not  yield  to  him 
altogether;  there  was  a  maidenly  shyness  in  her  re- 
luctant response. 

\"I  do  care  for  you,  Carl,"  she  murmured.  "I  do 
love  you,  Carl,"  and  her  voice  was  very  low  as  for 
the  first  time  she  called  him  by  his  Christian  name; 
*'but  it  all  seems  too  strange.  I  cannot  understand." 
And  here  she  suddenly  broke  away  from  him.  "I 
ought  not,  I  ought  not,  for  it  can  never  be.  No,  it 
can  never  be!"  she  exclaimed  with  a  poignant  em- 
phasis, f 

"What  can  never  be?"  asked  Carl,  startled  at  her 
sudden  action  in  the  very  moment  when  she  seemed 
all  his  own. 

"They  would  never  allow  it  in  the  Spielgarten," 
she  went  on;  "they  have  prohibited  it." 

"Prohibited  what?"  asked  Carl,  perplexed. 

"Any  free  choice  between  a  man  and  a  maid.  In 
the  Spielgarten  the  Particular  Council  chooses  for 
us.    We  cannot  choose  for  ourselves." 

Carl  stood  astounded.  Mina's  words  came  upon 
him  like  a  thunder  bolt  out  of  heaven. 

"It  is  preposterous!"  he  exclaimed  indignantly; 


62  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

"such  a  regulation  transgresses  the  first  law  of  na- 
ture. Surely  they  cannot  go  so  far;  It  Is  an  unbear- 
able despotism!" 

"But  it  is  true,  Carl;  it  is  the  law  of  the  Spiel- 
garten." 

\"But  I  love  you,  Mina,  and  you  me,  and  no  man 
has  the  right  to  come  between  us.  What  has  the 
Particular  Council  to  do  with  our  loves?" 

"I  do  love  you,  Carl,"  and  Mina  blushed  at  her 
own  words,  as  she  caught  Carl's  eager  and  fond 
glance  in  response  to  them,  "but  the  Particular 
Council  regulates  and  controls  all  marriages.  It 
chooses  those  who  are  to  marry,"  and  the  girl's 
eyes  grew  troubled  as  she  spoke,  while  Carl  broke 
out  into  a  storm  of  indignant  invective.  "Oh,  prom- 
ise me,"  she  said,  placing  her  hands  upon  his  shoul- 
ders and  looking  with  Infinite  tenderness  Into  the 
young  man's  eyes,  "promise  me  that  you  will  say 
or  do  nothing  rash." 

"For  you,  Mina,  dear,  I  would  do  anything.  I 
will  be  careful,  but  one  thing  I  will  never  submit  to, 
and  that  is  this  infamous  rule.  To  have  you  taken 
from  me  and  given  to  another  would  be  worse  than 
death,"  and  Carl's  voice  rose  in  his  excitement. 

"Hush,  not  so  loud,  Carl,"  exclaimed  Mina.  "I 
hear  voices.     It  is  father  and  Herr  Schmidt." 

As  thgy  stood  listening  they  heard  the  two  elder 
men  talking  as  they  came  out  of  the  house.  Herr 
Schmidt  was  evidently  leaving.  They  could  not 
catch  the  words,  but  there  seemed  a  suppressed  note 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  63 

of  anger  in  the  voices.  Mlna's  hand  rested  on  Carl's 
arm  as  she  stood  in  an  expectant  attitude.  She 
looked  up  at  Carl,  who  placed  his  hand  upon  hers 
with  a  protecting  tenderness. 

The  voices  had  ceased;  Herr  Schmidt  had  evi- 
dently gone.  Presently  they  heard  the  footsteps 
of  Herr  Clausen  approaching.  ^  Mina  did  not  with- 
draw her  hand  from  Carl's,  but  stood  waiting  in 
naive  confidence.  Flerr  Clausen  turned  the  corner 
of  some  shrubbery  that  had  concealed  him  from 
view.  His  brow  was  contracted  and  his  face 
flushed.  He  was  laboring  under  some  deep  agita- 
tion. He  stopped  abruptly  when  he  came  in  sight 
of  Mina  and  Carl.  Mina  did  not  stir.  Clausen 
gazed  at  them  for  a  moment,  and  then  advanced. 
In  their  attitude  he  read  the  situation.  , 

"Mina,  my  child,"  he  cried  with  emotion  and 
held  out  his  arms  to  her;  "Mina,  yes,  I  understand,'' 
as  the  young  girl  buried  her  face  upon  his  shoulder, 
\"I  understand;  I,  too,  am  fond  of  Carl,"  and  he 
extended  his  free  hand  to  the  young  man,  "but  what 
can  we  do,  what  can  we  do?"  Carl  looked  in  won- 
der at  Clausen,  whom  he  had  never  seen  perturbed 
before,  for  the  latter  was  now  deeply  moved,  and 
his  voice  actually  broke  as  he  spoke. 

"Father,  what  is  It?"  nervously  inquired  Mina, 
looking  Into  his  face  anxiously.  "What  is  it,  what 
disturbs  you  so  much?" 

'^"It  has  come  at  last,"  said  Clausen  with  a  groan. 
"I  have  been   fearing   it   for  the   past  two   years. 


64  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

Mina,  Mina,  they  are  going  to  take  you  from  me," 
here  the  man's  voice  shook  with  agitation.  "The 
Particular  Council  has  just  been  making  the  quar- 
terly selections  and  you  among  others,  my  child, 
have  been  chosen."  Mina  paled  and  trembled,  and 
Carl  started  violently.  Here  was  the  very  danger 
upon  them  against  which  he  had  just  been  so  bitterly 
defiant. 

"They  have  chosen  you,  Mina;  God!  but  the 
words  choke  me !  They  have  chosen  you,  my  Mina, 
for  Herr  Schmidt!  It  was  this  he  came  to  tell  me. 
It  was  hard  to  restrain  myself;  I  could  scarce  keep 
from  strangling  the  devilish  brute,  and  he  saw  it; 
but  I  held  back,  and  he  smiled  and  rubbed  his  hands, 
until  I  felt  as  If  I  could  kill  him  then  and  there.  I 
curbed  myself  and  spoke  to  him  politely  enough. 
Mina,  Mina,  what  shall  we  do?  I  cannot  bear  It! 
Carl,  my  boy,  you  love  her,  what  shall  we  do?" 
And  he  turned  to  Carl,  who  scarcely  recognized 
Herr  Clausen,  usually  so  calm  and  strong,  stagger- 
ing under  a  blow  that  seemed  to  shatter  the  resolu- 
tion and  resource  of  his  nature. 

Carl  himself  was  completely  taken  aback  at  the 
suddenness  of  the  blow,  but  Herr  Clausen's  appeal 
roused  him,  and  his  strong  Impetuous  spirit  shook 
itself  free  from  the  shock  of  the  announcement. 

"We  will  not  submit  to  it,"  he  cried;  "it  Is  devil's 
work,  Herr  Clausen.  Surely  there  Is  some  way  to 
circumvent  It.  Can  we  not  appeal  to  the  courts? 
Is  there  no  justice  in  the  Splelgarten?'y 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  65 

Herr  Clausen  shook  his  head  despairingly. 
"There  Is  no  appeal  from  the  Particular  Council. 
Its  decrees  are  final.  It  has  absolute  control  of 
such  matters.     It  mates  and  unmates  at  its  will." 

"Let  us  rouse  the  people  and  break  this  iniquitous 
law.    We  will  appeal  to  the  people." 

Herr  Clausen  looked  up  at  Carl  with  haggard 
eye.  "No,  Carl,  it  would  be  useless.  The  people 
in  the  Spielgarten  have  long  ago  become  passive  in- 
struments in  the  hands  of  the  State.  They  would 
not  understand  you;  besides,  we  would  be  seized 
and  imprisoned  on  the  instant " 

"Then  we  must  flee  from  the  Spielgarten,"  cried 
Carl. 

"See  the  mountains  around  you,"  answered  Clau- 
sen, stretching  out  and  sweeping  his  arm  around; 
"and  then  the  sea  beyond;  and  armed  soldiers  at 
every  egress  to  shoot  us  down.  No  one  has  ever 
succeeded  in  escaping." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

Before  Carl  left,  Herr  Clausen  had  recovered 
something  of  his  wonted  equanimity.  The  blow 
had  fallen  upon  him  heavily,  none  the  less  because 
it  had  been  expected.  It  had  been  hanging  over  his 
head  like  the  sword  of  Damocles  ever  since  Mina 
had  come  to  womanhood.  He  dreaded  it  all  the 
more  because  so  certain.  To  have  Mina  taken  from 
him  was  to  blot  the  light  out  of  his  life,  and  to  have 
her  given  to  another  without  choice  and  inevitably 
by  the  fiat  of  the  Particular  Council  was  beyond  en- 
durance. 

In  his  own  mind  he  had  long  ago  recoiled 
against  this  state  supervision  and  determination  of 
marriage.  As  It  was  arranged  in  the  Splelgarten, 
he  realized  the  transaction  In  Its  naked  ugliness.  He 
saw  In  It  the  mere  mating  of  human  creatures  like 
cattle.  The  logic  of  It  on  the  principle  of  Socialism 
did  not  In  the  least  mitigate  his  repugnance. 
i^JThat  It  was  to  the  interest  of  the  Socialist  state 
to  regulate  and  govern  the  propagation  of  the  race 
by  selecting  and  mating  with  an  eye  to  the  well-being 
of  the  future  citizen  those  who  were  to  be  parents, 

66 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  67 

he  knew  only  too  well  was  an  inevitable  conclusion 
from  the  premises  which  declared  the  individual  to 
be  entirely  subordinate  to  the  State's  welfare,  but 
it  was  precisely  the  practical  results  of  Socialism  thus 
logically  carried  over  into  life  that  had  first  brought 
him  to  the  realization  of  the  insufficiency  of  its 
scheme  of  government.  He  had  been  a  witness  to 
these  results  and  had  in  consequence  come  to  rebel 
against  the  principles  whence  they  followed,  though 
he  was  careful  to  conceal  his  true  sentiments. 

And  now  the  brutal  fact  which  he  had  so  long 
dreaded  stared  him  in  the  face;  Mina,  who  alone 
had  made  life  bearable  during  the  long  years  which 
he  had  come  to  regard  as  a  veritable,  though  irre- 
vocable exile,  in  the  Spielgarten,  was  to  be  torn  from 
him,  and  given  over — how  the  thought  galled  him — 
to  the  lust  of  the  one  man  above  all  others  whom 
he  thoroughly  and  utterly  detested.  Schmidt  was 
coarse  and  brutal,  and  his  hypocritical  exterior  but 
heightened  the  disgust  which  he  stirred  In  Clausen's 
breast. 

After  the  first  poignancy  of  his  grief,  the  strength 
of  his  nature  reasserted  itself  and  his  judgment  be- 
gan to  clarify.  He  became  absorbed  in  the  one  idea, 
how  -possibly  to  avert  the  disaster  which  so  threat- 
ened, without  remedy.  He  refused  to  yield  to  the  in- 
evitable and  was  constantly  casting  about  in  his 
mind  for  some  means  of  staving  off,  at  least  for  the 
time  being,  the  gross  dishonor,  as  he  conceived  It, 
which  menaced  Mina,  in  the  hope  that  in  the  mean- 


68  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

time    something    might    eventuate    to    save    her. 

Carl,  to  whom  had  come  in  the  same  moment  the 
bright  possession  of  Mina's  love,  and  the  dire  threat 
of  forever  losing  her,  was  as  resolutely  and  more 
passionately,  as  became  a  lover,  set  against  yielding 
to  circumstances,  which  seemed  beyond  mortal  power 
to  compass.  It  was  only  the  elder  man's  maturer 
counsel  that  held  him  back  from  some  desperate 
measure. 

"Let  us  think  It  out  first,  Carl,"  said  Clausen;  "we 
are  utterly  helpless  if  we  betray  ourselves  at  the 
start.  Herr  Schmidt  knows  his  advantage,  and  if 
we  show  any  spirit  of  opposition,  he  would  make 
the  utmost  of  it  to  ruin  us." 

When  Carl  returned  to  Marxville  that  evening 
and  narrated  to  Denis  McCarthy  the  events  that 
had  occurred  at  Clausen's,  the  Irishman's  eyes 
flashed  with  a  dangerous  light.  "The  hell-hound!" 
he  exclaimed  when  Schmidt's  name  was  mentioned, 
"I  know  the  beast.  An'  it's  he  would  be  takin'  little 
Mina.  By  God,  but  I'll  break  his  ugly  head  first, 
sure  as  I'm  Denis  McCarthy!" 

After  Denis  had  given  vent  to  his  wrath,  he  did 
what  was  not  usual  in  Denis,  he  lapsed  into  silence 
for  a  while  with  his  brows  deeply  knit,  his  lips  pursed 
and  thinking,  as  Carl  continued  giving  him  the  de- 
tails, with  many  expressions  of  his  own  bitter  dissent 
against  the  way  things  had  shaped  themselves  in  the 
Spielgarten. 

When  Carl  had  finished  Denis  rose  and,  walking 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  69 

over  to  the  door  of  the  room  in  which  they  were, 
carefully  shut  It  and  then  coming  to  Carl,  laying  his 
hand  upon  his  shoulder,  said  with  sharp  emphasis: 

"Me  boy,  ye're  no  longer  a  Socialist." 

CarUgtarted  and  looked  at  him. 

"Ye're  converted,  me  lad,"  went  on  Denis,  "from 
the  damned  nonsense."  Carl  stared  in  greater  sur- 
prise than  ever.  "YIs,  me  boy,  ye're  a  converted 
Socialist.  It's  bowl'd  over  ye  are  and  clane  knocked 
out.  Arrah,  but  it  takes  a  blow  under  the  belt  to 
jolt  a  man's  brains  Into  a  bit  of  common  sinse." 

Carl  was  more  than  surprised  by  Denis'  words. 

"Why,  Denis,  are  you  like  Herr  Clausen?  Have 
you,  too,  learned  to  repudiate  Socialism?" 

"Not  a  bit  of  It,  me  boy.  I  niver  was  a  Socialist. 
Sure  It  was  only  an  accident  that  shifted  me  into 
this  hole.  It  was  all  along  from  me  love  of  ould 
Olreland." 

"And  how  was  that?"  asked  Carl. 

"Ye  see,  I  was  in  London,  and  got  Into  a  bit  of 
a  plot  wid  the  boys  to  free  the  ould  counthry,  whin 
I  met  up  wid  a  Frinchman,  who  was  one  of  us. 
DIvil  a  bit  of  a  Socialist  did  I  susplct  in  him.  One 
day  he  ast  me  to  bring  some  papers  to  some  of  our 
friends  In  Paris.  Bad  cess  to  him,  if  iver  I  lay  me 
hands  on  him!'''  and  Denis  shook  his  brawny  fist 
in  a  way  that  boded  111  for  the  Frenchman.  "Well, 
I  took  the  papers  to  Paris  and  whin  I  got  there,  the 
police  took  me.  The  papers  was  a  whole  plot  in 
cipher  showing  how  to  assassinate  the  Prisident,  and 


70  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

me  as  innlcent  as  a  lamb !  An'  it  wasn't  two  weeks 
an'  I  was  in  the  Splelgarten." 

"So  you  never  were  a  Socialist  and  never  believed 
in  its  doctrines?" 

"No  more  than  I  believed  in  the  English  Govern- 
mint,"  answered  Denis  with  emphasis.  "An'  I 
haven't  thought  any  the  more  of  it  since  I've  been 
here ;  but  I  haven't  been  confidin'  me  notions  to  the 
public,  me  boy." 

"Denis,"  said  Carl,  turning  eagerly  upon  the 
Irishman,  "what  would  you  give  to  get  out  of  this 
cursed  hole?" 

"Give!"  echoed  Denis,  "iverything  excipt  me  im- 
mortal soul!  but  it's  dramin'  ye  are.  I've  dramed 
it  mesilf  sometimes,  but  it's  only  been  in  me  sleep." 

"No,  Denis,  I  mean  it  in  sober  earnest.  We  must 
escape  from  this.  We  must  get  away  from  the  Spiel- 
garten,  Mina,  and  her  father,  you  and  I." 

Denis  stared  at  Carl  for  a  moment:  "Sure,  it's 
your  head  that's  turned.  Why,  me  boy,  it's  only  by 
flyin'  that  ye'd  iver  get  out  o'  this." 

"No,  I  mean  it  with  all  my  soul.  I  know  the  dif- 
ficulties seem  insurmountable.  But  we  have  strong 
bodies  and  sound  heads.  We  are  in  face  of  a  des- 
perate situation.  We  must  try.  We  cannot  sit  down 
and  let  this  horrible  fate  overtake  Mina,"  and  Carl 
brought  his  clenched  hand  down  on  the  table. 

Denis  stroked  the  back  of  his  head  with  a  per- 
plexed air. 

"We  must  explore  the  way,  Denis,  you  and  I.    We 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  71 

have  ample  opportunities  In  our  woodcutting  expe- 
ditions. We  can  be  away  for  several  days  at  a  time 
without  anyone  suspecting  us.  We  have  a  month's 
time  allowed  between  the  matrimonial  decisions  of 
the  Particular  Council  and  the  Espousals  for  the 
year." 

"Thrue  enough,"  said  Denis.  "I'm  wid  ye,  me 
boy,  though  it's  thinkin'  I  am  that  it's  a  bigger  job 
than  we  know." 

"But  we  mustn't  think  about  It,  we  must  do,"  an- 
swered Carl.  "You're  not  a  man  to  shirk  dif- 
ficulties, I  know.  We  can  try,  at  any  rate.  Let  us 
find  out  what  is  in  the  way  before  we  decide.  Do 
you  know  anything  about  the  lower  end  of  the  val- 
ley? The  river  flows  out  at  that  end,  perhaps  we 
may  find  some  way  out  there." 

"The  river  flows  into  a  great  gorge  there  and  be- 
yont  there's  a  big  cataract,  they  say.  Ye  can  hear 
the  water  roarin'  a  mile  away." 

"Well,  can't  you  arrange  to  go  to  that  end  of  the 
valley  to  explore  for  timber?  I  heard  you  say  the 
other  day  that  the  largest  trees  in  the  island  were 
at  the  lower  end  of  the  valley.  Can't  you  arrange 
with  your  department  of  labor  to  cut  timber  there?" 

"Sure  an'  I  can,"  answered  Denis,  for  Carl's 
urgency  with  the  practical  suggestion  the  latter  was 
making  had  awakened  his  interest,  even  If  the  propo- 
sition did  not  appear  feasible  to  his  judgment. 

"Get  permission  at  once  and  lose  no  time.  We 
will  set  out  to-morrow.    We  will  go  by  Herr  Clau- 


72  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

sen's  on  our  way  down  and  acquaint  him  with  our 
plan." 

"Well,  no  harm  can  come  of  thryin'.  If  there's 
any  way  of  batin'  the  divil,  and  sure  it's  batin'  him 
to  get  out  o'  this,  I'm  wid  ye,  me  lad. 

"And  to  save  little  Mina,"  continued  Denis,  "be- 
gorra,  I'd  climb  the  mountain,  fight  the  sojers  there 
and  swim  the  whole  ocean  beyont." 

And  as  he  spoke,  Denis  grasped  Carl's  hand  with 
a  warm  and  sympathetic  clasp. 


CHAPTER  IX 

Little  sleep  came  to  Carl  that  night.  His  brain 
was  in  a  whirl.  He  imagined  a  thousand  wild  de- 
vices to  escape  from  the  Spielgarten,  all  equally  vain 
and  inconclusive.  He  was  in  a  feverish  anxiety  to 
be  up  and  doing. 

With  the  first  ray  of  light,  he  arose  and  went  to 
McCarthy's  room  and  eagerly  aroused  the  Irish- 
man, who,  not  being  a  distressed  lover,  had  not 
tossed  restlessly  the  night  through,  but  slept  soundly, 
as  was  his  wont.  Denis  stared  blankly  at  first  at 
being  so  peremptorily  awakened,  but  soon  gathering 
his  sleepy  wits,  responded  with  alacrity. 

After  breakfast  the  Irishman  went  to  the  office 
of  the  superintendent  of  the  lumber  department  to 
arrange  for  permission  to  prospect  the  southern  end 
of  the  valley  on  the  plea  of  getting  larger  trees 
there  than  his  wood-cutting  corps  had  been  securing 
of  late  at  the  upper  end.  There  was  little  difficulty 
in  getting  the  necessary  permission,  as  there  could 
be  no  possible  suspicion  in  such  an  expedition,  which 
Denis  had  often  before  undertaken. 

It  was  well  towards  seven  o'clock  when  he  and 

73 


74  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

Carl  set  forth.  The  sun  had  not  yet  risen  above 
the  mountains  along  the  eastern  edge  of  the  Spiel- 
garten,  and  their  shadows  fell  across  the  valley.  To 
Carl  the  whole  scene  wore  a  sinister  aspect.  Nature 
seemed  to  threaten  and  the  Spielgarten  had  come 
to  be  a  horrible  prison  house.  How  different  it  all 
seemed  now  in  contrast  with  those  happy  days  when 
he  first  came  into  the  valley  to  that  large  liberty,  as 
he  thought,  which  was  only  to  be  found  in  a  com- 
munity where  Socialism  flourished  and  where  man- 
kind was  enfranchised  from  the  shackles  of  the  hated 
conventions  of  the  outer  world. 

Marxville  was  scarce  astir,  and  they  met  but  fcAv 
people  as  they  traversed  its  streets  on  their  way  to 
Clausen's  house.  When  they  arrived  there,  they 
found  that  Mina  ai>d  her  father  had  passed  an 
anxious  night.  Clausen  seemed  to  have  aged  sud- 
denly, and  Mina  looked  pale  and  worn.  Carl  and 
Denis  only  stopped  long  enough  to  communicate 
their  plan  of  exploring  the  southern  end  of  the  val- 
ley, Avhich  did  not  seem  to  hearten  Clausen  very 
much,  who  entertained  little  hope,  he  told  them,  of 
ever  getting  out  of  the  Spielgarten.  But  Carl  was 
eager  and  so  he  and  Denis  pushed  on,  following  the 
road  along  the  river. 

It  was  noon  when  they  arrived  at  the  narrow 
gorge  into  which  the  stream  embouched  in  a  swift 
and  foaming  rapid.  They  could  hear  the  roar  of  a 
distant  cataract  booming  through  the  precipitous 
cliffs  that  rose  above  the  rushing  waters.     On  either 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  75 

side  the  steep  hills  rose  abrupt  and  dense  with  heavy 
timber.  It  was  not  a  prospect  to  hearten  them.  It 
was  all  new  ground  to  Denis  who  surveyed  the  scene 
in  silence.  Even  his  wonted  light-heartedness  grew 
heavy-winged.  Any  egress  by  way  of  the  stream  was 
clearly  impossible.  To  scale  those  towering  and  un- 
known heights  v/as  a  task  to  appall  the  sturdiest 
and  beyond  these  the  ocean  itself! 

"Me  lad,"  said  Denis,  "I'm  thinkin'  it's  a  balloon 
we  nade." 

"If  we  only  had  a  balloon!"  ejaculated  Carl,  as 
he  gazed  upward  at  the  sharply  defined  mountain 
range  towering  above. 

"But  we  haven't,"  retorted  Denis,  "so  let's  be 
pushin'  on  a  bit,  though  it's  a  tough  job,  I'm 
thinkin'." 

"Let's  first  take  a  look  at  the  river,"  suggested 
Carl,  "as  it  goes  into  the  gorge.  There  may  be  a 
chance " 

"Divil  a  chanct,"  interrupted  Denis,  "but  looking 
will  work  no  harm,  sure." 

They  turned  to  the  river  bank.  The  waters 
rushed  headlong  by  them,  here  and  there  breaking 
into  foam  over  hidden  rocks.  Carl  was  eager  to 
push  on,  Denis  reluctant,  asserting  that  they  could 
not  proceed  for  any  distance,  and  it  was  impractic- 
able to  waste  time  in  seeking  further  in  a  direction 
which  obviously  could  not  be  pursued.  Carl,  how- 
ever, insisted,  and  started  forward  along  a  narrow 
ledge  jutting  out  from  the  constantly  increasing  pre- 


76  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

cipltousness  of  the  bank.  Denis  followed  with  many 
exhortations  to  be  cautious. 

In  this  way  they  advanced  some  hundred  yards, 
flattening  themselves  closely  to  the  steep  sides  while 
the  ledge  narrowed  to  a  footing  scarcely  twelve 
inches  wide.  Just  beyond  them  the  ledge  turned, 
hiding  further  view. 

Carl,  eager  to  see  beyond  the  bend  ahead,  flat- 
tened his  body  still  more  against  the  cliff,  and  edged 
onward,  unheeding  Denis'  querulous  admonition  to 
be  careful.  Suddenly  he  felt  the  ledge  crumbling 
beneath  his  precarious  footing,  and  with  Denis' 
startled  outcry  ringing  in  his  ears,  realized  that  he 
was  falling.  With  a  desperate  effort  he  grasped  at 
a  shrub,  which  stayed  him  for  an  instant  only,  and 
then  he  found  himself  plunged  into  the  boiling 
waters  and  swept  onward  with  the  impetuous  cur- 
rent. 

Denis  stood  shrinking  back  against  the  cliff  and 
gazing  in  impotent  agony  as  he  saw  Carl  swirled 
onward  and  out  of  sight.  Great  beads  of  perspira- 
tion stood  out  on  his  forehead.  In  sudden  terror 
he  shouted,  "Carl!  Carl!"  as  if  in  some  way  he 
might  assist  his  friend,  thus  abruptly  swallowed  up 
before  his  very  eyes  in  the  sinister  flood  below.  He 
could  not  advance  a  step  farther,  as  the  treacherous 
ledge  on  which  Carl  had  just  been  standing  had 
broken  away.  ,  But  Denis  was  not  the  man  to  wait 
irresolutely  when  occasion  demanded  action. 

Carefully  and  swiftly  as  was  consistent  with  his 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  77 

cramped  position,  he  pushed  back  along  the  ledge  to 
where  the  nature  of  the  bank  admitted  an  ascent 
and  climbed  to  the  top,  hurrying  desperately  through 
the  dense  undergrowth  until  he  came  to  a  point 
where,  after  much  labor  and  delay,  he  could  survey 
the  river  beyond  the  point  where  Carl  had  fallen, 
in  the  slender  hope  of  perhaps  seeing  Carl  clinging 
to  some  rock  above  the  surface  or  to  some  chance 
projection  from  the  shore. 

But  the  banks  on  both  sides  rose  sheer  and,  al- 
though there  were  here  and  there  rocks  above  the 
stream,  Carl  was  nowhere  visible.  Denis  called 
again  and  again,  but  his  voice  went  unanswered, 
save  for  the  deep  roar  of  the  distant  cataract,  as  if 
in  mockery  of  his  now  despairing  solicitude. 

"O  Carl,  Carl,  why  didn't  you  hade  me,"  wailed 
Denis,  as  he  gazed  helplessly  down  on  the  boiling 
current.  "O  Mother  of  God,  and  the  blessed  saints 
help  him !  Sure  it  was  I  that  warned  him.  Wurra, 
wurra,  what  in  the  wurruld  will  I  do?"  and  Denis 
fairly  broke  down,  sobbing  like  a  child. 

Plainly  there  was  little  hope  for  Carl  in  that  rag- 
ing torrent  below,  and  Denis  shuddered  as  he 
thought  of  the  cataract  whose  roar  resounded  so 
ominously  near.  Rousing  himself,  he  climbed  still 
higher  up  the  edge  of  the  gorge,  but  the  higher  he 
ascended,  the  farther  below  lay  the  river  and  the 
less  prospect  there  was  of  a  possibility  of  seeing  any- 
thing in  the  growing  depth  beneath. 

After  a  vain  hour  spent  in  the  attempt,  and  in  his 


78  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

heart  he  felt  it  a  hopeless  effort,  Denis  turned  sadly 
back  and  sought  his  way  downward,  revolving  de- 
jectedly in  his  mind  how  he  was  to  break  the  news 
of  the  horrible  disaster  to  Mina  and  her  father. 

He  had  become  deeply  attached  to  Carl,  but  he 
felt  that  his  own  grief,  strong  as  It  was,  would  be 
as  nothing  in  comparison  with  that  of  the  young  girl 
who  had  given  her  maiden  love  to  Carl,  and  he 
shrank  from  the  hard  task  of  telling  her  of  Carl's 
death.  After  a  three-hours'  steady  trudge  up  the 
valley,  he  reached  Clausen's  house.  As  he  drew 
near  an  appalling  dread  settled  down  upon  him. 
How  was  he  to  break  tlie  news?  He  would  tell 
Clausen  and  let  him  tell  Mina.  He  stood  irresolute 
for  a  moment  at  the  gate,  with  a  desperate  inclina- 
tion to  turn  back  and  go  on  to  the  town,  but,  gather- 
ing himself  together,  he  finally  went  up  the  little 
path  lined  with  flowers,  which  seemed  to  mock  his 
grief,  and  knocked  at  the  door.  To  his  intense  re- 
lief, it  was  opened  by  Clausen  himself. 

"Denis!"   exclaimed  Clausen  in   surprise.      "Are 

you  back  so  soon?     I  thought "     He  stopped 

abruptly,  reading  trouble  in  the  Irishman's  face. 
"What  is  it,  man?"  Clausen  went  on.  "What  is 
it?"  and  he  grasped  Denis'  arm  abruptly. 

"Where's  Mina?  I  can't — it's  you'll  have  to  tell 
her.  Carl's "  and  he  stopped,  looking  into  Clau- 
sen's eyes  significantly. 

"What  has  happened?" 

"Come  out  into  the  road  with  me,"  and  Deni§^ 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  79 

fearful  that  Mina  might  be  nearby,  drew  Clausen 
to  the  gate  and  hurriedly  narrated  the  events  of  the 
day.  Clausen  was  greatly  shaken  at  the  news  and 
Denis,  whose  spirit  seemed  to  be  completely  broken 
by  the  disaster,  bade  Clausen  a  hurried  and  discon- 
solate good-bye,  and  hastened  to  Marxville  to  re- 
port the  death  of  Carl  for  the  public  record. 

Here  was  a  sad  ending  to  a  deep  attachment, 
which  the  advent  of  Carl  some  few  months  ago  had 
brought  to  these  three  souls  in  the  Spielgarten.  Clau- 
sen, who  had  been  shaken  to  the  depths  of  his  being 
by  the  threatened  espousal  of  Mina  to  Herr  Schmidt, 
as  decreed  by  the  Particular  Council,  felt  the  blow 
all  the  more  keenly. 

How  was  he  to  break  the  sad  news  to  Mina?  As 
he  left  Denis  and  took  his  way  back  to  the  house, 
his  thoughts  v/ere  bitter.  Though  he  had  long  ago 
realized  the  perverse  fate  that  had  set  him  down  in 
this  narrow  prison  house,  it  was  only  now  that  he 
fully  felt  the  crushing  force  of  the  Iron  hand  which 
held  him  impotent  in  its  relentless  grasp. 


CHAPTER  X 

Carl's  loss  completely  prostrated  Mlna.  As  long 
as  Carl  was  alive  and  by  her  side,  she  felt  that  there 
would  be  some  way  of  escape  from  the  horrible 
possibility  of  the  espousals  with  Herr  Schmidt. 
Carl's  sanguine  temperament,  which  could  nev^er  be 
brought  to  admit  as  possible  what  he  refused  to 
accept,  had  been  a  prop  to  her  hopes  and  inclina- 
tions. But  now,  bereft  of  his  sympathy  and  pres- 
ence, she  pined  and  drooped  under  the  grief  of  his 
loss  with  the  dreadful  prospect  of  the  hated  mar- 
riage with  Herr  Schmidt. 

Denis,  who  came  over  frequently  to  confer  with 
her  father,  had  little  consolation  to  offer.  A  deep 
gloom  had  settled  upon  the  spirits  of  both  men. 
They  realized  only  too  well  the  desperate  nature  of 
the  situation. 

\  In  the  early  years  of  the  settlement  there  had  been 
^  sharp  conflict  over  the  question  of  marriage  and 
the  family.  The  first  colonists  had  been  divided  in 
sentiment;  some  had  advocated  free  choice  in  mar- 
riage and  a  continuance  of  the  family  life,  as  they 
had  known  it  in  the  world  beyond  the  Spielgarten. 

80 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  8i 

But  the  more  ardent  and,  indeed,  the  more  consist- 
ent Socialists  had  vigorously  opposed  it  as  an  insti- 
tution of  the  capitalist's  world,  the  very  rock  and 
basis  of  individualism. 

They  urged  first  of  all  that  free  choice  was  essen- 
tially individualistic,  an  indiscriminate  and  sfelfish 
seeking  without  regard  to  the  common  weal.  To 
allow  it  would  be  to  foster  an  institution  entirely 
inconsistent  with  the  idea  of  the  collective  good  at 
which  Socialism  aimed.  The  whim  or  caprice  of 
individual  citizens  must  give  way  to  the  general  wel- 
fare. The  individual,  led  by  his  likes  and  dislikes, 
was  not  capable  of  determining  the  supreme  good 
of  the  State. 

Therefore,  the  marital  relation  must  necessarily 
fall  under  the  full  control  of  the  State,  whose  wis- 
dom would  select  and  direct  the  citizen  in  that  most 
important  office  upon  which  the  future  of  the  com- 
mon weal  depended.  That  relation  once  entered 
into  under  the  direction  of  the  State,  it  followed  that 
its  regulation  and  control  should  be  just  as  vigilantly 
exercised  by  the  State  itself. 

The  family,  if  allowed  to  continue  as  a  unit,  as 
in  that  older  civilization  which  SociaKsm  in  the 
Spielgarten  had  discarded  and  supplemented,  would 
naturally  engender  individualistic  forces  antagonis- 
tic to  the  Socialist  policy.  Family  life  naturally  be- 
got strong  and  selfish  affections.  The  love  of  the 
parent  for  the  child,  and  the  child  for  the  parent 
was  purely  individualistic  and  led  of  necessity  to  a 


82  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

desire  for  property,  the  very  basis  of  the  individual- 
istic State.  To  conserve  the  family  would  be  more 
than  dangerous  to  the  Socialist  ideal;  it  would,  in 
fact,  be  a  contradiction  in  terms  and  absolutely  in- 
compatible with  the  fundamental  tenet  of  Socialism. 

In  the  Spielgarten  the  logic  of  the  situation  rap- 
idly developed  and  a  practical  conclusion  was 
quickly  come  to,  namely,  the  entire  control  and  regu- 
lation of  the  marital  relation  by  the  State.  One 
temporary  concession  was  tolerated,  namely,  the 
continuance  of  the  family  for  those  who  had  entered 
upon  it  prior  to  the  adoption  of  the  new  law  some 
twenty  years  after  the  foundation  of  the  colony. 

By  the  time  of  Carl's  advent  the  new  regulation 
had  been  in  force  for  many  years.  Children,  as  soon 
as  born,  were  taken  from  their  mothers  and  cared 
for  under  State  supervision.  Two  large  houses,  one 
in  Marxville,  the  other  at  the  lower  end  of  the  val- 
ley, had  been  erected  for  this  purpose. 

The  children,  as  soon  as  born,  were  confided  to  a 
corps  of  women  called  State  Mothers,  chosen  usually 
from  those  who  had  themselves  proved  childless, 
or  were  too  old  to  bear  children.  When  a  woman 
had  been  mated  two  years  without  issue,  she  was 
never  re-mated,  but  placed  among  the  State 
Mothers. 

Clausen  had  been  among  those  who  had  at  first 
opposed  this  policy,  but,  recognizing  the  futility  of 
further  opposition,  he  yielded  to  a  logic  which  was 
inevitable  when  once  the  premise  of  Socialism  was 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  83 

admitted.  He  himself  had  embraced  Socialism  on 
economic  and  political  grounds,  thinking  to  find  in 
it  a  way  out  of  what  seemed  to  him  intolerable  con- 
ditions in  the  lot  of  the  masses. 

When  he  was  brought  face  to  face  with  the  prac- 
tical results  of  the  Socialist  creed, — and,  indeed, 
he  could  see  no  escape  from  the  conclusion — he  re- 
coiled before  the  ghastly  consequences.  He  was 
thankful  for  the  compromise  effected  for  the  time 
being  in  favor  of  those  original  colonists  who  had 
established  families  before  the  adoption  of  the  new 
law,  for  it  was  only  by  virtue  of  this  arrangement 
that  he  was  allowed  to  retain  Mina  and  rear  her  in 
his  own  keeping. 

Now  the  blow  which  he  had  so  long  dreaded  had 
at  last  fallen.  Mina  was  to  be  taken  from  him  and 
mated  to  Herr  Schmidt  by  order  of  the  Particular 
Council,  from  whose  decree  there  was  no  appeal.    . 

It  was  Friday  and  the  tenth  day  after  the  loss  of 
Carl  in  the  river.  Denis  had  come  over  from 
Marxville  with  the  news  that  preparations  were  be- 
ing made  in  the  town  for  the  ceremony  of  mating 
on  the  Monday  following.  That  morning  he  had 
met  Herr  Schmidt,  who  had  informed  him  that  the 
Particular  Council  had  decided  to  advance  the  date 
of  the  ceremony  two  weeks  ahead  of  the  time  orig- 
inally arranged.  Herr  Schmidt  had  not  told  Denis 
the  reason  for  the  change,  but  Denis  had  shrewdly 
guessed  that  the  advancement  of  the  time  had  been 
concerted  In  some  way  by  Herr  Schmidt  himself, 


84  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

whose  voice  was  potent  in  the  dehberations  of  the 
Council. 

Denis,  whose  dislike  of  Schmidt  had  now  grown 
to  a  vigorous  loathing,  had  not  been  slow  to  pour 
the  vials  of  his  wrath  upon  Schmidt's  head,  accusing 
him  of  subterfuge  in  bringing  about  the  selection 
of  Mina  for  himself.  Schmidt's  face  darkened  as 
the  angry  Irishman  turned  upon  him  and  damned 
him  vigorously. 

"You  shall  smart  for  this,  Herr  McCarthy,"  he 
snarled  savagely,  and  without  further  reply  turned 
curtly  away. 

"By  God,"  ejaculated  Denis,  as  he  narrated  the 
incident  to  Clausen,  "in  another  moment  I'd  have 
wrung  the  dirty  spalpeen's  neck.  May  the  divil  take 
him  for  the  blackguard  he  is." 

Clausen's  brow  darkened  when  he  heard  the  news. 
He  clenched  his  hands  in  a  bitter  rage,  but  felt  him- 
self impotent,  Denis  placed  his  hands  on  Clausen's 
shoulders,  looking  him  square  in  the  eyes,  his  own 
burning  with  a  fierce  light,  and  said  with  deadly  sig- 
nificance: "Herr  Clausen,  rest  aisy  for  yourself. 
Mina  shall  never  go  to  that  baste.  I'll  kill  him 
first." 

"What  good  would  that  do,  Denis?"  groaned  the 
anguished  father.  "The  same  fate  would  befall 
Mina  in  the  end,  with  someone  else  selected  by  the 
Particular  Council,  and  you  would  go  to  the  house 
of  Euthanasia." 

"Divil   a   bit  would   I,"    retorted   Denis,   "while 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  85 

there's  a  bit  of  fight  left  in  me  little  finger.  Kill 
they  might,  and  kill  me  they  must,  if  it's  dying  at 
all,  but  no  Euthanasy  for  Denis  McCarthy,  as  long 
as  he's  alive  with  a  head  on  his  shoulders  and  two 
good  arms." 

"No,  no,  Denis;  violence  is  of  no  avail.  We  are 
in  the  cruel  jaws  of  a  malign  fate.  Those  moun- 
tains are  the  walls  of  our  prison  and  there  is  no 
escape." 

"Just  let  me  get  in  a  row  with  Schmidt.  It  won't 
be  murther,  just  a  clane  dacent  fight,  wid  a  dead  man 
at  the  end  of  it,  and  that  won't  be  Denis  McCarthy." 

Clausen  could  not  help  smiHng  in  spite  of  his  own 
dejection  at  the  Irishman's  ethical  disposition  of 
Herr  Schmidt. 

"No,  Denis,"  he  reiterated,  "violence  will  do  no 
good.  I  would  not  for  an  instant  suffer  you  to 
jeopardize  yourself  in  such  a  w^ay.  Killing,  except 
by  sheer  accident,  has  no  extenuation  in  the  code  of 
the  Spielgarten.  Our  course  does  not  lie  that  way; 
though  what  way,  I  don't  know,  I  don't  know,"  he 
ended,  with  a  despairing  break  in  his  voice.  "There 
is  but  one  thing  I  can  think  of  now  and  that  is  to 
temporize,  if  possible,  by  trying  to  get  the  Particu- 
lar Council  to  rescind  its  action  in  advancing  the 
ceremony  and  have  it  put  back  to  the  time  originally 
set." 

"T'will  all  be  the  same  in  the  end,"  urged  Denis, 
"with  Schmidt,  the  blackguard,  crushing  little  Mina 
like  the  big  ugly  spider  he  Is.     Bad  cess  to  him,  but 


86  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

I'd  like  to  get  me  hand  around  his  windpipe  just 
onct!"  And  Denis  reached  out  his  big  arm  and 
gripped  the  imaginary  throat  of  Herr  Schmidt. 

"I'll  make  a  petition  to  the  Particular  Council," 
said  Clausen,  "to  defer  the  mating.  Perhaps  some- 
thing may  turn  up  in  the  meantime,  God  help 
us!" 

"There  is  but  one  thing,  Clausen,"  answered 
Denis,  "to  relieve  the  prisent  situation,  and  that  is 
Herr  Schmidt  nately  removed.  An'  I'm  the  boy  to 
do  it,  not  by  murtherin'  him,  the  Saints  forbid!  but 
by  disposin'  of  him  in  a  straight  fight.  As  for  me- 
silf,  I'm  done  with  the  whole  damned  institution ! 
I've  been  tin  years  in  this  hathen  hole  and  that  not 
of  me  own  seeking,  and  I've  a  long  score  to  settle. 
And  as  there's  no  gettin'  out,  I'd  as  lave  make  one 
good  straight  drive  of  it  an'  go  down  shoutin'  wid 
some  damage  to  the  inimy.  It's  the  divil's  own  bail- 
iwick, your  dam.ned  Socialism,  where  a  man's  soul 
isn't  his  own  and  everybody  no  betther  than  a  black 
nigger  wurkin'  for  the  State.  To  hell  wid  it  all,  says 
I !  An'  it's  quittin'  I  am  at  last.  One  good  hour  of 
rale  freedom,  when  a  man's  himself  for  onct,  is 
worth  a  thousand  years  of  this  hathenism  that  even 
the  Turk  would  be  ashamed  of.  No,  Clausen,  you 
needn't  say  a  word.  You  know  it  yoursel'.  I've 
been  thinkin'  hard  over  it  this  long  time,  and  I've 
seen  this  divil's  grind  here  for  tin  years,  and  I'm 
goin'  to  end  it  for  mesel'.  The  next  time  I  meet  him 
rn  slap  his  dirty  face.    He's  a  fighter,  and  then  I'll 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  87 

get  me  chanct.     When  the  others  come  afther  me 

vTr  i'  T'  "^  "■'"  '°  '^'  ''="*  ''^f°^«  Denis 
McCarthy  I'm  a  rebel,  and  I  intend  to  be  a  free 
man  tor  this  onct  anyway !" 

Denis  spoke  with  an  impassioned  vehemence,  and 
at  a  length  wh.ch  Clausen  had  never  before  heard 
h.m  mdulge.  It  was  the  ebullition  of  ten  years  of 
gathermg  wrath,  which  had  been  simmering  in  the 
Inshman  s  heart  ever  since  he  had  been  thrust  into 
the  spielgarten. 

By  race  and  creed,  Socialism  was  repugnant  to 
h.m,  and  ,t  was  the  very  irony  of  fate  th«  made 
h.m  ,ts  enforced  victim.  He  had  endured  its  iron 
system  w,th  secret  loathing,  but  with  an  Irishman's 
ready  adaptability  and  good  nature  had  made  the 
best  of  a  bad  bargain,  and  carefully  concealed  his 
true  sentiments. 

Mina's  impending  fate  was  the  first  instance  which 
had  completely  struck  home  to  his  strong  and  gen- 
erous nature.  He  had  known  her  as  a  child  and 
he  had  conceived  a  strong  affection  for  her  To 
see  her  brought  to  the  level  of  a  Circassian  slave, 
and  mated  to  a  man  like  Schmidt  was  too  much  for 
nis  chivalric  temperament. 

The  system  under  which  he  had  been  forced  to 
live  for  the  past  ten  years  he  might  have  tolerated 
mdefimtely  provided  there  was  no  hope  of  escape 
from  It.  But  when  it  reached  the  point  where  it 
was  about  to  enmesh  in  its  loathsome  toils  a  woman 
whom  he  both  respected  and  loved  from  childhood 


88  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

as  a   father,  his  whole  nature  rose  in  reckless  re- 
beUion. 

fit  was  in  vain  that  Clausen  expostulated  with 
him.  The  Irishman's  mind  was  fixed.  In  vain  did 
Clausen  urge  upon  him  the  inevitable  result  of  his 
rashness,  certain  death  in  the  end.  Denis'  reply 
was,  that  at  least  he  would  die  with  his  boots  on, 
and  that  there  was  a  heap  of  consolation  in  that,  for 
*'Euthanasy  was  not  at  all  to  his  likin'." 


CHAPTER  XI 

When  Carl  was  precipitated  into  the  turbulent 
stream  below  by  the  breaking  of  the  ledge  under  his 
feet,  he  felt  himself  seized  by  the  whirling  waters 
and  rapidly  borne  onward.  Confused  and  gasping, 
for  the  first  moment  he  was  conscious  only  of  a 
roaring  In  his  ears  and  a  patch  of  blue  sky  above. 
With  the  instinct  of  self-preservation  at  the  moment 
of  peril,  he  reached  out  desperately  for  the  side  of 
the  cliff,  which  rose  precipitously  out  of  the  water, 
in  the  hope  of  catching  some  shrub  or  branch  or  jut- 
ting rock.  But  the  cliff  was  bare  of  all  vegetation 
and  his  hands  slid  over  a  wet  and  slippery  surface. 

Gathering  his  scattered  senses,  he  endeavored  to 
take  some  cognizance  of  his  situation  as  he  was  rap- 
idly whirled  away.  He  soon  realized  that  he  was 
powerless  to  beat  up  against  the  current,  which  was 
both  deep  and  strong. 

He  found  that  he  was  being  borne  out  from  the 
shore  towards  the  middle  of  the  stream,  and,  real- 
izing that  his  only  chance  to  stay  his  onward  course 
was  some  possible  projection  from  the  cliff  which  he 

89 


90  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

might  grasp,  he  struck  out  with  all  his  strength  to- 
wards the  shore  and  managed  to  keep  within  a  few 
feet  of  the  lace  of  the  overhanging  walls.  Twice 
he  felt  his  body  strike  some  hidden  projection  be- 
neath the  surface,  but  before  he  could  even  make  an 
effort  to  cling  to  it  with  his  legs,  he  found  himself 
swept  past. 

The  roar  of  the  cataract  beyond  was  growing 
ominously  louder,  and  he  was  keenly  aware  that  his 
progress  was  becoming  swifter  and  swifter  with  an 
evidently  accelerated  current.  Higher  and  higher 
rose  the  stony  walls  on  either  side;  and  he  was  grow- 
ing spent  with  his  efforts.  Suddenly  he  noticed  a 
projecting  ledge  some  forty  feet  before  him.  With 
a  desperate  effort  he  struck  out,  hand  over  hand, 
lifting  his  body  as  high  above  the  current  as  he 
could,  and  just  grasped  it,  but  it  was  slippery  and 
covered  with  a  wet  moss  to  which  he  clung  with 
desperate  fingers.  The  respite  was  only  momentary. 
In  spite  of  his  tenacious  grip  he  was  hurled  away 
again,  and,  yielding  to  exhaustion,  resigned  himself 
to  the  resistless  grasp  of  the  waters. 

Turning  on  his  back,  he  abated  his  efforts  to 
merely  keeping  afloat,  gasping  for  breath.  In  this 
position  he  must  have  been  borne  on  some  two  hun- 
dred feet,  when  he  noticed  that  he  was  floating  rap- 
idly out  from  the  shore.  He  was  almost  too  spent 
to  care  and  could  only  wonder  at  it.  He  saw  the  sky 
above  very  blue  and  very  far  away.  The  sound  of 
the  cataract  boomed  heavily  in  his  ears;  it  was  all 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  91 

over  and  he  only  wished  that  it  might  end  quickly. 

Then  he  became  half-conscious  that  his  direction 
had  changed;  he  was  now  being  swept  in  towards 
the  shore.  Yes,  he  evidently  was,  for  suddenly  the 
great  cliff  loomed  over  him  and  he  found  himself 
floating  in  the  direction  opposite  to  the  current. 
Turning  on  his  stomach  again,  he  saw  that  he  had 
been  swung  inward  on  a  rapid  eddy,  formed  by  a 
great  curve  in  the  precipitous  banks.  At  the  inner- 
most edge  his  eyes  confusedly  caught  a  low  ledge, 
back  of  which  was  an  opening  into  the  face  of  the 
cliff. 

Exhausted  as  he  was,  he  gathered  a  desperate 
courage  and,  striking  out  with  hysteric  energy,  kept 
himself  as  close  as  possible  to  the  cliff.  He  was 
now  within  a  few  feet  only  of  the  ledge  whose  top 
was  no  more  than  a  foot  above  the  surface  of  the 
stream.  As  he  came  to  it,  with  a  last  effort  he  threw 
both  arms  over  it  and  clung  to  it  v/ith  all  the  tenac- 
ity of  despair,  but  his  body  felt  like  lead. 

How  was  he  to  raise  himself  up  on  it?  For  there 
was  neither  crack  nor  roughness,  which  his  fingers 
might  clutch.  Struggling  with  the  last  ounce  of  en- 
ergy he  possessed,  and  only  as  a  man  can  whose 
safety  depends  upon  a  single  chance,  he  grasped  the 
rock  with  his  elbows  and  forearms,  and,  leaning  to 
the  right  side,  slowly  and  painfully  lifted  his  left 
leg  out  of  the  water  and  succeeded  at  last  in  getting 
it  on  top  of  the  ledge.  V/ith  his  leg  as  a  lever  he 
managed  to  drag  his  body  up,  gasping  and  faint- 


92  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

ing,   and   then   rolled  over   and  lost   consciousness. 

When  Carl  recovered  from  his  swoon,  in  which 
he  must  have  lain  for  an  hour  at  least,  he  felt  chilled 
and  weak.  His  clothes  were  still  wet  and  he  had 
had  no  food  since  morning.  It  was  then,  from  the 
position  of  the  sun,  as  nearly  as  he  could  guess,  about 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  At  first  he  gazed 
about  him  with  lassitude  from  his  weakness.  After 
a  time  he  roused  to  a  realization  of  his  perilous  situ- 
ation. Before  him  swirled  the  great  eddy,  with  its 
sinister  green  waters,  and  out  beyond  it  the  main 
body  of  the  stream  swept  on  like  a  mill-race,  and 
nearer  than  ever  the  roar  of  the  cataract  thundered 
in  his  ears. 

Sheer  above  rose  the  cliff,  a  thousand  feet  or  more, 
clearly  impossible  to  scale.  Within  two  feet  of 
where  he  lay — for  he  had  not  yet  attempted  to  rise 
— trickled  a  little  stream  over  the  ledge  into  the 
river.  It  flowed  from  an  opening  some  four  feet 
In  diameter  in  the  face  of  the  cliff.  He  noted  also 
a  current  of  air  coming  from  the  opening. 

He  was  still  somewhat  bewildered.  His  ex- 
haustion, the  sense  of  imminent  peril,  from  which 
he  seemed  to  have  been  miraculously  snatched,  still 
weighed  upon  him.  Suddenly  it  occurred  to  him 
that  in  his  pocket  was  some  food  for  luncheon,  which 
he  had  placed  there  when  he  had  set  out  in  the 
morning.  With  avidity  he  plunged  his  hand  in  and 
drew  out  two  sandwiches,  sodden  with  water.  These 
he  devoured  eagerly,  in  spite  of  their  soggy  condi- 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  93 

tion.     It  gave  him  strength,  and  with  strength  his 

courage  was  rekindled. 

Perilous  as  was  his  position,  there  was  yet  hope, 

he   thought,   seeing  how  marvelously  he  had  been 
saved  from  the  cataract.    Fortified  with  this  thought 
he  arose  to  his  feet  and  surveyed  his  surroundings 
with   a   clearer  brain.      In   front  of  him   the   river 
meant  certain  death;  back  of  him  rose  the  cliff,  a 
sheer  wall,  which  would  require  wings  to  surmount 
But  the  opening  in  the  cliff !     He  approached  it.     A 
draft  of  damp  air  was  plainly  Issuing  from  it.     Did 
not  this  argue  that  there  must  be  some  opening  be- 
yond?   Either  river  or  cliff  was  impossible.     There 
was  but  one  way,  the  hazard  of  the  opening  In  the 
cliff. 

Carl  approached  the  opening  with  the  sensation 
of  a  man  who  was  about  to  plunge  into  the  unknown, 
as  indeed  he  was,   for  there  could  be  but  one  of 
two  issues  to  his  enterprise;  either  he  must  help- 
lessly perish  of  starvation  on  this  barren  ledge,  or 
find  a  way  out  of  his  present  certain  death  by 'the 
way  of  the  passage  before  him.     Stooping  to  his 
hands  and  knees,  he  entered  and  slowly  groped  his 
way  forward,  his  hope  justified  by  the  fact  that  he 
felt  the  draught  of  air  blowing  steadily  against  him, 
as  he  made  his  way  painfully.     In  a  short  time  the 
ghmmer  of  light  coming  from  the  entrance  disap- 
peared, and  he  was  in  total  darkness. 

Feeling  up  along  the  damp  wall,  he  now  discov- 
ered that  the  roof  of  the  passage  was  high  enough 


94  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

to  enable  him  to  stand  upright.  The  current  of  air 
still  blew  against  him.  Relieved  from  the  stooping 
posture,  he  pushed  on  with  extreme  caution,  slowly 
feeling  his  way  along  the  wall.  He  could  hear  the 
stream  running  quietly  along  the  floor  of  the  cave 
a  few  feet  away. 

Once,  with  a  sudden  shock,  he  slid  Into  a  pool  of 
water  some  three  feet  deep.  Recovered  from  this, 
he  painfully  pursued  his  necessarily  slow  way,  grop- 
ing, as  he  was  in  a  darkness  worse  than  that  of 
blindness,  for  his  open  eyes  were  painfully  strained 
in  a  vain  effort  to  see. 

After  what  appeared  to  him  a  half  hour  of  this 
tedious  passage,  he  was  brought  to  a  sudden  halt  by 
a  wall  immediately  in  front  of  him,  and  seemingly 
barring  all  further  progress.  Was  it,  after  all,  only 
a  blind  passage  into  which  he  had  come?  The 
thought  staggered  him.  If  so,  there  was  the  sole 
alternative  of  returning  to  the  ledge  by  the  river 
and  slowly  starving  to  death  there. 

He  stood  for  a  moment,  his  knees  faint  under  him, 
as  hope  seemed  to  die  out  of  his  heart.  He  no- 
ticed that  the  current  of  air,  which  up  to  then  had 
blown  steadily  in  his  face,  w^as  now  upon  his  left 
side.  He  must  have  come  to  a  sharp  angled  turn  in 
the  passage.  Facing  around  to  his  left,  which  put 
the  wall  he  had  so  abruptly  met  on  his  right  hand, 
he  resumed  his  onward  way,  his  heart  beating  vio- 
lentlv,  with  the  dreadful  fear  that  perhaps  he  would 
in  another  minute  meet  with  a  second  barrier;  but 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  95 

nothing  intervened  for  several  hundred  yards,  when 
he  noticed  that  the  floor  of  the  passage  inclined  up- 
ward with  a  sharp  rise,  so  much  so  as  to  make  the 
ascent  laborious.  But  what  kindled  his  hope  fur- 
ther, was  that  the  draught  was  here  plainly  stronger 
than  he  had  yet  felt  it. 

Sometimes  he  stumbled  and  fell  over  loose  rocks, 
bruising  himself  and  cutting  both  hands  and  knees. 
After  his  last  fall,  he  lay  prone  for  a  time,  utterly 
spent.  Rising  to  a  sitting  posture,  he  held  his  throb- 
bing head  in  his  hands,  trying  to  think  clearly,  for 
the  tension  of  groping  blindly  on  in  utter  darkness, 
and  the  oppressive  silence,  were  beginning  to  confuse 
him.  For  a  moment,  he  seemed  to  lose  conscious- 
ness. Rousing  himself  with  an  effort,  he  staggered 
to  his  feet  and  pressed  on  against  the  draught,  which 
was  his  only  clue  in  what  had  now  become  to  him 
almost  a  living  tomb. 

He  had  only  one  thought  left,  that  of  a  dogged 
persistance.  He  must  go  on  whatever  happened. 
The  sense  of  extreme  caution  with  which  he  had 
heretofore  slowly  groped  along  gave  way  to  an  im- 
petuous recklessness.  Go  on  he  must,  go  on  he 
would;  fight  his  way  out  of  this  darkness  and  rid 
himself  of  the  horrible  weight  that  seemed  to  be 
holding  him  down  as  if  the  mountain  above  were 
closing  in  upon  him.  With  hands  outstretched 
against  the  wall  on  the  right  side,  he  trudged  on  at 
a  faster  pace  than  he  had  yet  taken.  Fortunately, 
there  were  fewer  stones  In  his  path,  and  he  escaped 


96  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

without  a  fall  for  the  next  quarter  of  an  hour.  Then 
the  floor  took  an  abrupt  decline,  almost  throwing 
him  from  his  feet,  and  then  as  sudden  an  ascent  for 
a  few  paces. 

Here  the  wall,  by  which  he  was  guiding  himself, 
drew  sharply  away  to  the  right  and  a  sense  of  being 
in  a  wider  expanse  took  instantaneous  possession  of 
him.  It  seemed  to  him  as  if  he  had  come  out  of  a 
narrow  passage  Into  a  wide  cavern.  Reaching  down, 
he  took  up  as  small  a  stone  as  he  could  find  and 
threw  Tt  from  him  with  sufficient  force  to  go  ordi- 
narily some  twenty  feet.  He  waited  a  tense  mo- 
ment, and  then  heard  it  plunge  heavily  into  water, 
and  immediately  a  volley  of  replicated  echoes  on 
every  side  startled  him.  Evidently  he  was  in  a  cav- 
ern of  some  dimensions.  He  threw  a  second  and  a 
larger  stone  with  the  same  result.  The  echoes  of 
its  plunge  reverberated  with  a  thunderous  exagger- 
ation. After  the  clamorous  noise  had  died  away, 
Carl  stood  irresolute. 

The  plunging  sound  of  the  stone  seemed  ominous, 
as  if  in  deep  water  and  this  Immediately  in  front  of 
him.  Instinctively  he  drew  closer  to  the  wall  and 
continuously  felt  his  way  along  its  line  with  out- 
stretched arms  and  back  flattened  against  it  and  his 
feet  projected  sideways  to  feel  his  footing.  Slowly 
he  thus  crept  on,  sliding  one  foot  after  another. 

He  seemed  to  be  on  an  inclined  edge  whose  slope 
made  his  foothold  perilously  insecure.  He  no  longer 
felt  the  air-current  which  had  given  him  a  clue  here- 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  97 

tofore  as  to  direction.  In  this  more  spacious  cham- 
ber such  as  he  now  surmised  he  had  entered,  the 
current  seemed  lost,  whereas  the  narrow  tunnel 
which  he  had  recently  traversed  made  a  funnel  for 
the  downward  suction  of  the  air  current  to  its  exit 
by  the  river's  ledge. 

An  inlet  there  must  be  somewhere,  or  there  could 
be  no  flow  outward.  Was  he  taking  the  proper  di- 
rection? Was  the  way  to  the  right  or  to  the  left? 
He  had  chosen  the  right  side  without  reflection.  It 
was  a  blind  chance.  Perhaps  he  had  wandered  into 
a  subterranean  labyrinth  with  many  ramifications, 
but  with  only  one  possible  exit.  All  this  passed 
through  his  purturbed  mind,  as  he  crept  sideways 
along  the  wall  in  the  direction  he  had  thus  chosen, 
at  a  mere  hazard. 

Inch  by  inch  he  made  his  way  for  what  seemed  to 
him  an  interminable  distance,  surmising  as  he  went 
that  he  was  making  a  circuit  from  the  fact  that  the 
wall  at  his  back  against  which  he  lay  as  flat  as  he 
could,  seemed  curved.  Finally,  after  almost  a  half 
hour's  painful  progress,  he  reached  with  his  out- 
stretched right  arm  an  opening  out  of  which,  to  his 
inexpressible  joy,  he  felt  again  a  current  of  air  flow- 
ing inward.  Buoyed  up  by  the  renewed  hope,  he 
plunged  into  it.  Clearly  the  air  was  stronger  and 
fresher  than  in  the  tunnel  on  the  other  side.  He 
must  be  nearing  the  opening. 

Once  more  he  felt  as  if  he  were  in  narrower  quar- 
ters.   The  sense  of  spaciousness  about  him  had  gone. 


98  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

The  ascent  now  grew  steeper  and  he  had  to  resort 
to  a  posture  on  hands  and  knees  as  he  toiled  upward. 
After  an  hour's  laborious  climbing,  he  rested, 
through  sheer  exhaustion.  Faintly  from  above  and 
beyond  came  a  distant  murmur.  Pulling  himself  to- 
gether, he  resumed  his  toil  for  another  half  hour, 
upward,  at  times,  and  at  times  at  a  level,  and  as  he 
went,  the  murmurous  sound  increased  and  gradually 
grew  into  a  distant  roar. 

Was  it  the  sound  of  the  cataract?  He  must 
surely  be  approaching  the  surface.  Pushing  onward 
with  desperate  resolve,  he  at  last  saw  a  faint  glim- 
mer of  light  at  a  sudden  turn  of  the  tunnel.  He 
staggered  forward,  and,  though  weak  and  faint,  re- 
doubled his  almost  spent  powers  in  the  rush  of  joy 
that  flooded  his  soul  at  the  prospect  of  a  near  release 
from  what  had  seemed  a  living  entombment.  For- 
tunately, the  floor  of  the  tunnel  at  this  point  leveled 
and  then  gently  sloped  downward.  The  gleam  of 
light  had  now  visualized  into  a  clearly  defined  open- 
ing.    He  could  even  dimly  see  his  way. 

As  he  had  no  longer  to  climb,  he  hastened  his 
gait,  feeble  as  it  was,  into  an  attempt  at  running, 
spurred  by  a  vague  sense  of  dread,  as  of  something 
behind  him  in  pursuit,  and  after  a  few  minutes  he 
reeled  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  cave  into  the  open 
air.  He  flung  his  arms  upward  in /an  ecstasy  of  joy, 
as  if  saluting  the  sky  in  worship  for  his  escape.  The 
landscape  danced  about  his  dazed  vision.  He 
shouted  aloud  incoherently  and  laughed  in  a  semi- 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  99 

delirium.  He  was  saved,  he  was  saved!  Oh,  it  was 
good  to  draw  great  draughts  of  fresh  air  deep  into 
his  lungs  and  feel  the  lightness  of  the  atmosphere 
about  him,  relieving  him  of  the  dreadful  weight  of 
the  darkness  of  the  black  cavern  from  which  he  had 
just  emerged. 

He  had  come  from  the  very  jaws  of  death  in  its 
most  hideous  form,  and,  sinking  down  upon  the 
earth  with  outstretched  arms,  he  sobbed  and  sobbed 
until  at  last  he  passed  into  the  deep  and  heavy  sleep 
of  utter  exhaustion,  and  the  shadows  of  night  crept 
into  the  little  valley  upon  which  the  cavern  opened, 
and  into  which  he  had  come. 


CHAPTER  XII 

It  was  not  until  the  sun  stood  high  in  the  heavens 
the  next  morning  that  Carl  woke  from  his  profound 
slumber.  He  was  bruised  and  sore  and  stiff,  but 
withal,  refreshed.  It  was  some  moments  before  he 
got  his  bearings.  Then  he  recalled  the  events  of 
the  day  before,  his  fall  into  the  river,  the  eddy  and 
the  ledge  under  the  cliff,  and  his  horrible  journey  in 
the  darkness  through  the  cavern. 

As  he  glanced  at  the  ominous  opening  only  a  few 
feet  from  where  he  had  fallen,  he  shivered  as  he 
recalled  his  struggle  through  the  bowels  of  the 
mountain  the  day  before.  In  his  utter  exhaustion 
upon  emerging  from  the  cave,  he  had  taken  no  note 
of  the  surroundings.  He  now  saw  that  he  was  in  a 
small  valley  between  two  mountain  ridges.  Below 
him,  some  two  hundred  yards  away,  he  saw  a  little 
stream  wending  Its  way  at  the  bottom  of  the  valley. 

The  valley  was  well  wooded,  with  all  the  variety 
of  trees  that  grew  In  the  Island.  He  could  hear  the 
roar  of  the  great  cataract  towards  the  lower  end, 
which  he  supposed  to  be  that  from  which  he  had  so 
marvelously  escaped  the  day  before.     Happily  just 

loo 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  loi 

below  him  he  saw  some  banana  trees  laden  with 
fruit,  for  the  island  contained  many  kinds  of  tropi- 
cal fruit  growing  in  wild  profusion.  Hastening  to 
them  he  gathered  some  half  dozen  and  devoured 
them  eagerly,  for  he  was  desperately  hungry.  Re- 
freshed by  these,  he  descended  the  mountain  side 
to  the  stream  below  and  quenched  his  thirst  in  its 
clear,  cold  waters.  The  physical  man  being  thus 
replenished,  he  began  mentally  to  cast  up  his  situ- 
ation. 

Back  of  him  rose  a  lofty  range,  cutting  him  off 
from  the  Spielgarten.  In  front  of  him,  on  the  other 
side  of  the  stream,  rose  another  lofty  range,  per- 
haps bordering  on  the  sea.  The  stream  by  which 
he  stood,  flowed,  no  doubt,  into  the  river  beyond  at 
no  great  distance,  for  the  noise  of  the  cataract  now 
fairly  thundered  in  his  ears. 

His  first  thought  was  to  get  back  into  the  Spiel- 
garten. He  had  no  means  of  estimating  how  far 
from  it  he  was,  but,  what  with  his  journey  down  the 
stream  and  the  time  covered,  as  he  might  guess  it,  in 
his  way  through  the  cavern,  he  concluded  that  he 
could  not  be  less  than  three  miles  from  the  Spiel- 
garten in  a  direct  line,  but  between  him  and  it  rose 
a  mountain  range,  jagged  and  precipitous,  and  ap- 
parently inaccessible. 

Looking  up  the  valley,  he  remarked  that  it  curved 
to  his  left,  perhaps  a  mile  beyond,  in  the  direction  of 
the  Spielgarten.  To  go  down  the  valley  was  clearly 
to  go  further  from  the  Spielgarten.    The  only  alter- 


102  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

native  was  to  go  up  the  valley  with  the  possible 
chance  of  discovering  some  way  leading  back.  Start- 
ing, he  picked  his  way  along  the  bank  of  the  stream, 
making  slow  progress,  as  it  was  strewn  with  bould- 
ers and  stones,  compelling  him  to  make  many  de- 
tours. 

He  had  thus  gone  for  about  a  mile  when,  to  his 
astonishment,  in  a  small  open  space  on  the  other 
side  of  the  stream,  he  came  upon  a  rude  hut,  its  walls 
of  loose  stones,  roughly  put  together,  and  its  roof  of 
saplings  with  plastered  mud.  What  could  it  pos- 
sibly mean?  He  had  never  heard  of  anyone  from 
the  Spielgarten  ever  penetrating  beyond  the  inner 
pale  of  the  mountain  and  why  should  anyone  from 
the  outer  v/orld  seek  to  come  into  this  little  and 
lonely  valley  between  these  rough  and  towering 
ranges? 

Recovering  from  his  first  moment  of  surprise, 
Carl,  filled  with  an  eager  curiosity,  crossed  the 
stream,  jumping  from  rock  to  rock,  with  which  it 
was  filled,  and  cautiously  approached  the  hut.  It 
had  apparently  been  standing  for  some  time,  for  its 
walls  were  weather-stained.  There  were  no  signs 
of  life  about  it.  Carl  called  out,  but  no  answer 
came.  There  was  no  door.  The  entrance  was  a 
simple  opening. 

Carl  peered  in  and,  his  eyes  gradually  accustom- 
ing themselves  to  the  half  light  within,  for  there 
were  no  windows,  he  saw  the  outlines  of  a  bed  of 
withered  boughs  on  one  side,  and  a  rough  bench  on 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  103 

the  other.  The  interior  was  otherwise  bare.  It  evi- 
dently had  not  been  occupied  for  a  long  time.  En- 
tering, Carl  started  back  as,  upon  closer  observa- 
tion, he  discovered  the  outlines  of  a  body  on  the 
bed  of  boughs.  Approaching  it,  Carl  saw  that  it 
was  a  human  body  reduced  to  a  mumified  state,  the 
flesh  having  wasted  away,  leaving  the  yellow  skin 
stretched  loosely  over  the  bones  of  the  skeleton,  with 
pieces  of  rotted  garments  clinging  here  and  there. 
It  was  a  man's  body,  for  vestiges  of  a  beard  still 
clung  about  the  mouth  and  chin,  but  the  features 
were  unrecognizable.  In  the  clear  mountain  air  the 
flesh  had  rather  dried  away  than  corrupted. 

Lying  beside  the  body  on  the  floor  was  a  rusted 
rifle.  Carl  picked  it  up  and  examined  it,  opening 
the  breach.  It  had  been  discharged,  for  the  butt 
of  the  cartridge  in  the  rifle  chamber  bore  the  mark  of 
the  hammer.  Stooping  down,  Carl  examined  the 
body,  drawing  away  the  remnant  of  garments  that 
still  clung  to  It  and  looking  carefully  for  any  mark 
of  a  wound,  for  it  had  occurred  to  him  that  perhaps 
the  unfortunate  had  come  to  his  death  by  the  dis- 
charge of  the  rifle  either  intentionally  or  accident- 
ally. It  was  too  dark,  however.  In  the  hut,  to  see 
well. 

As  Carl  turned  round  from  his  Investigation  of 
the  body,  he  perceived  on  the  rough  table  a  belt  of 
cartridges  nearly  full,  and  alongside  It  a  notebook 
with  a  pencil  beside  It,  as  if  just  laid  down  by  the 
writer.    Taking  up  the  book,  Carl  went  out  of  the 


104  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

hut,  and  began  turning  over  its  pages,  now  yellow 
and  dry. 

At  a  glance,  he  saw  that  it  was  a  diary  in  a 
closely  written  and  educated  hand.  The  first  three 
pages,  which  had  curled  upward,  were  undecipher- 
able, save  for  a  word  here  and  there,  on  account  of 
the  indistinct  tracings  of  the  pencil  and  the  yellow 
color  of  the  paper,  but  the  fourth  page  was  fairly 
clear,  and  as  Carl  turned  the  succeeding  pages  over, 
he  saw,  as  they  had  not  been  exposed  to  the  air,  as 
the  first  pages  had  been,  that  the  characters  were 
plainly  legible. 

Notwithstanding  his  own  precarious  situation,  he 
was  devoured  with  a  not  unnatural  curiosity  to 
fathom  the  mystery  of  the  dead  man  if  the  diary 
could  throw  any  light  upon  it.  The  top  of  the  fourth 
page  began  with  the  conclusion  of  a  sentence,  "grad- 
uated with  distinction."  But  he  could  not  decipher 
the  beginning  of  the  sentence  at  the  bottom  of  the 
third  page.  He  could  only  barely  make  out  the 
words  "college"  and  "year"  and  conjectured  from 
the  context  that  followed  that  the  writer  was  stating 
that  in  a  certain  year  In  a  certain  college  he  had 
graduated  with  distinction.  From  this  on  the  writ- 
ing was  perfectly  legible  and  ran  as  follows : 

"After  graduation,  as  my  father  was  desirous 
that  I  should  follow  In  his  footsteps  In  the  profes- 
sion of  medicine,  In  which  he  himself  had  achieved 
some  distinction,  It  was  determined  that  I  should  go 
to  Vienna  the  following  fail  to  pursue  my  medical 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  105 

studies  In  Its  famous  schools,  although  I  had  no  in- 
clination In  that  direction.  In  accordance  with  this 
arrangement,  I  found  myself  In  Vienna  the  ensuing 
October  as  a  medical  student.  There  was  little 
eventful  In  my  first  year.  Not  being  interested,  I 
was  not  a  keen  student,  and  fell  Into  a  rather  loose 
way  of  living,  for  which  there  was  abundant  oppor- 
timity  In  the  capital  city  of  the  Austrian  empire. 
Among  my  fellow  students  was  a  Russian  who, 
like  myself,  was  little  inclined  to  devote  him- 
self seriously  to  the  study  of  medicine.  He  was 
a  handsome  lad  with  a  brilliant  mind,  and  a  boon- 
companion. 

*'We  became  fast  friends,  but  under  his  levity 
ther?  was  a  serious  strain,  which,  strange  as  it  was  to 
me  at 'first,  found  Its  channel  In  an  ardent  advocacy 
of  Socialism.  This  he  only  revealed  to  me  by  de- 
grees and  by  the  middle  of  my  second  year,  to  make 
a  long  story  short,  he  had  completely  converted  me 
to  his  ideas. 

"I  found  that  he  was  a  member  of  a  secret 
Socialist  organization  with  international  'ramifica- 
tions. Under  the  Influence  of  his  persuasive  elo- 
quence, I  joined  the  society,  and  with  the  ardor  of 
youth  flung  myself  whole-souled  into  the  movement. 
Naturally  of  a  daring  disposition,  I  was  always 
ready  to  undertake  any  perilous  enterprise  for  the 
sake  of  the  cause.  A  plot  was  devised  to  assassinate 
the  Emperor.  To  Nicholas,  my  friend,  fell  the  lot 
of  making  the  attempt,  and  to  me  the  task  of  secretly 


io6  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

preparing  the  deadly  bomb  with  which  the  assassina- 
tion was  to  be  perpetrated. 

"In  spite  of  my  enthusiasm  for  the  cause  of  Social- 
ism, I  balked  at  the  idea  of  assassination.  I  con- 
fided my  scruples  to  Nicholas.  I  was  an  American, 
I  said,  to  whom  assassination  was  abhorent  as  a  po- 
litical method.  He  answered  me  by  a  torrent  of 
contempt,  reproaching  me  with  cowardice  and  luke- 
warmness  for  the  cause.  The  danger  was  his,  not 
mine.  He  was  to  do  the  deed.  I  was  only  to  pre- 
pare the  bomb  in  safety. 

"Now,  I  was  an  ardent  believer  in  Socialism  and 
thoroughly  convinced  of  the  justice  of  its  cause. 
Stung  by  his  reproaches,  though  still  shrinking  from 
the  repugnant  task,  and,  at  the  same  time  fully  aware 
that  I  was  already  hopelessly  complicated,  and  would 
have  to  render  a  stem  account  to  my  brother  con- 
spirators if  I  failed  to  obey  the  injunction  laid  upon 
me,  I  resolutely,  though  loathingly  set  to  work  to 
make  the  necessary  preparations,  Nicholas  assist- 
ing me.    A  month's  time  was  given  to  complete  them. 

"It  was  still  lacking  one  week  from  the  time  set 
when,  one  day,  Nicholas  burst  into  my  room,  pant- 
ing and  agitated,  fairly  shouting  at  me:  'Flee,  Lor- 
imer,  we  are  betrayed!  There  was  a  spy  among 
us.  Do  not  wait  an  instant,  but  go  at  once!'  He 
rushed  out  as  impetuously  as  he  had  entered,  and  I 
heard  him  go  headlong  down  the  stairs  into  the 
street  below.     I  have  never  seen  him  since. 

"Trembling  violently,  my  first  impulse  was  to  hide 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  107 

every  evidence  of  our  design  that  might  be  found  in 
my  rooms.  My  head  was  reeling  and  my  legs  shook 
uncontrollably  under  me,  so  nerve-racking  was  the 
shock  caused  by  Nicholas'  announcement.  Snatch- 
ing some  incriminating  papers  from  my  desk,  I  hast- 
ily flung  them  into  the  stove.  Seizing  my  hat,  I 
started  down  the  stairs, — my  room  was  on  the  third 
floor — and  just  as  I  reached  the  second  landing  I 
heard  the  tramp  of  several  men  coming  up  from  be- 
low. The  hallway  was  dark  in  the  rear  and  thither 
I  hastened,  crouching  behind  the  jamb  of  the  door. 
They  passed  without  perceiving  me.  I  had  no  doubt 
they  were  police,  though  they  wore  no  uniform. 
After  they  had  proceeded,  I  hastily  descended  the 
stairs,  but  as  I  stepped  over  the  threshold,  a  heavy 
hand  was  laid  upon  my  shoulder  and  I  found  my- 
self arrested. 

"My  first  impulse  was  to  resist,  but  my  captor  was 
not  alone.  Two  other  men  accompanied  him,  who 
also  seized  me.  'Resistance,  you  see,  is  useless,'  he 
said,  'come  quietly,  or  we'll  use  force.  Here  is  a 
conveyance  ready,'  and  he  pointed  to  a  carriage 
standing  at  the  curb. 

"I  will  not  dwell  upon  the  events  immediately  sub- 
sequent to  my  seizure.  I  was  dragged  to  prison, 
and,  after  a  week's  solitary  confinement,  I  was 
brought  before  a  tribunal  where  I  was  put  through 
a  searching  examination  and  learned  that  all  our 
plans  had  been  known  to  the  police  from  the  begin- 
ning.    We  had  been  betrayed  by  one  whom  we  sup- 


io8  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

posed  to  be  a  loyal  member  of  our  brotherhood,  but 
who  was,  in  reality,  a  secret  agent  for  the  police. 
My  case  was  hopeless  and  I  confessed.  My  sentence 
was  penal  servitude  for  life  in  Schlectland,  of  which, 
until  then,  I  had  never  heard." 

Here  followed  a  narration  of  Lorimer's  voyage 
in  transportation  to  Schlectland  and  his  commitment 
to  the  Spielgarten.  The  march  up  the  mountain  with 
the  dreadful  expectation  of  execution,  and  his  intro- 
duction to  the  Spielgarten  itself;  his  first  joy  upon 
finding  himself  in  a  Socialist  Community;  then  the 
gradual  realization  that  everything  was  not  up  to 
his  expectations,  until  at  last  he  became  disillusion- 
ized. All  this  was  a  counterpart  of  Carl's  own  ex- 
perience. Carl  read  it  with  conflicting  emotions;  it 
confirmed  his  own  experience.  Continuing,  he  found 
Lorimer's  story  upon  a  phase  of  life  in  the  Spiel- 
garten, which  Carl  had  not  as  yet  verified,  except  in 
prospect,  but  against  which  his  soul  rose  in  protest. 
He  read  on  in  the  faded  diary: 

"I  came,  after  a  year's  sojourn  in  the  Spielgarten, 
to  a  clear  apprehension  of  the  practical  working  of 
Socialism  in  the  economic  world.  All  capital  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  State,  that  is,  all  the  tools  of  pro- 
duction were  owned  and  operated  by  the  State,  as 
also  the  distribution  of  the  product.  The  Socialist 
maxim,  'to  every  one  according  to  his  need,'  is  here 
for  the  first  time  in  human  history  carried  out  in 
complete  practice.  There  is  no  private  property  and 
the  entire  product  is  distributed  equally.     There  is 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  109 

no  class  distinction;  there  is  no  poverty;  there  is  no 
competition;  no  struggle  after  wealth.  The  eco- 
nomic problem  of  the  individualistic  world  has  been 
leveled  down  to  terms  of  the  common  good. 

^^'The  Socialist  ideal  is  completely  realized,  but 
the  penalty  is  paid  in  full.  The  individual  as  such 
has  ceased  to  exist.  He  has  become  merely  a  cog  in 
the  State  machine.  The  State  admits  no  individual- 
istic distinction  and  no  individual  profit.  Individual 
initiation  has  disappeared.  The  individual  is  but 
grain  ground  into  common  grist.  The  consequence 
is  the  atrophy  of  individualism.  Superior  energy 
or  capacity  in  the  individual  has  no  goal  for  its  ef- 
fort, and  consequently,  no  stimulus  to  its  exci- 
tation. 

"This  is  strikingly  and,  to  my  mind,  horribly  evi- 
dent in  the  natives  of  the  Spielgarten  who  have 
been  born  and  bred  under  this  system.  They  have 
been  educated  from  infancy  in  the  Socialist  doctrine 
that  the  State  is  the  supreme  good,  that  the  common 
weal  is  the  sole  sanction  of  conduct;  that  the  indi- 
vidual should  have  no  thought,  desire,  or  object 
other  than  the  public  welfare,  of  which  the  State  is 
the  creator  and  the  inviolable  guardian.  As  soon  as 
the  child  is  capable  of  learning,  he  is  taught  the 
Socialist  catechism,  whose  first  questions  run  as  fol- 
lows: 

'*  *Q.   By  whom  were  you  begotten?' 

"  'A.  By  the  Sovereign  State.' 

"  'Q.  Why  were  you  begotten?' 


no  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

"  'A.  That  I  might  know,  love  and  serve  the  Sov- 
ereign State  always.' 

"  'Q.  What  is  the  Sovereign  State?' 

"  'A.  The  Sovereign  State  is  Humanity  in  com- 
posite and  perfect  being,' 

"  'Q.  Why  is  the  State  supreme?' 

"  'A.  The  State  is  supreme  because  it  is  my 
Creator  and  Conserver,  in  which  I  am  and  move 
and  have  my  being  and  without  which  I  am 
nothing.' 

"  'Q.  What  is  the  individual?' 

"  'A.  The  individual  is  only  a  part  of  the  whole, 
and  made  for  the  whole,  and  finds  his  complete  and 
perfect  expression  in  the  Sovereign  State.  Individ- 
uals are  made  for  co-operation  only,  like  feet,  like 
hands,  like  eyelids,  like  the  rows  of  the  upper  and 
lower  teeth.' 

"This  is  the  premise  which  Socialism  has  laid 
down  as  the  basis  of  its  system,  and  in  the  Spielgar- 
ten  this  premise  is  put  into  practical  operation. 
There  is  no  escape  from  its  conclusion.  Govern- 
ment here  has  been  built  upon  it  and  the  result  is 
that  the  individual  has  been  completely  and  inten- 
tionally eliminated  from  its  consideration.  Individ- 
uals in  the  Spielgarten  are  but  the  cogs  in  the  co- 
operative machinery  of  the  State,  the  rows  of  the 
upper  and  lower  teeth. 

"It  was  to  the  realization  of  this  inescapable  ma- 
chinery of  absolutism  that  I  gradually  awakened  in 
the  Spielgarten.     I  began  to   appreciate  the  grim 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  iii 

irony  of  the  sentence  which  had  condemned  me  to 
penal  servitude  for  hfe. 

"When  I  first  came  into  the  Spielgarten  I  was 
caught  up  into  the  seventh  heaven  of  bhss  at  finding 
myself  under  a  Socialist  regime  in  actual  working 
order.  Here  was  nature  bountiful  and  beneficent. 
Man  freed  from  the  exploitation  of  his  fellow  be- 
ings; poverty  unknown;  struggle  eliminated  in  the 
industrial  order;  the  rivalries  of  greed  and  ambition 
as  completely  eradicated  in  the  body  politic  as  in  the 
Garden  of  Eden.  Here  was  peace  and  plenty,  con- 
tent and  ease,  the  paradise  of  my  dreams,  but  now 
at  last  I  have  come  to  realize  that  all  this  is  at  the 
precious  price  of  freedom  and  at  the  costly  expense 
of  a  disguised  slavery. 

"We  in  the  Spielgarten  have  achieved  material 
contentment  and  even  comfort,  freedom  from  the 
responsibilities,  cares,  and  struggles  of  the  individ- 
ualistic world,  by  paying  the  supreme  price  of  what, 
after  all,  alone  constitutes  manhood,  the  price  of 
liberty.  We  have  made  the  State  our  god  and  It 
has  logically  exacted  from  us  the  bitter  sacrifice  of 
our  individuality.  It  has  immolated  us  on  Its  altar, 
the  helpless  victim  of  an  Iron  creed. 

"It  was  not  at  once  that  I  arrived  at  this  evalua- 
tion of  practical  Socialism.  It  took  me  a  year  of 
actual  experience  under  Its  regimen  before  I  became 
convinced,  and  that  with  reluctance.  Indeed,  I  was 
forced  to  it,  for  I  hated  to  acknowledge  that  what 
had  once  seemed  to  me  the  Ideal  of  mankind  should, 


112  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

after  all,  be  but  a  fool's  paradise;  that  the  fruit  of 
the  promised  land  was,  after  all,  but  dead  sea  fruit, 
dust  and  ashes  in  the  eating. 

"But  the  full  horror  of  the  situation  was  not 
brought  home  to  me  until  after  my  first  year  in  the 
Spielgarten.  By  that  time  I  had  come  to  understand 
the  industrial  and  political  servitude  of  Socialism 
in  practice,  which  could  be  likened  to  no  other  hu- 
man institution  than  slavery  as  it  existed  in  the 
United  States  before  the  war;  but  it  required  a  more 
intimate  personal  experience  with  its  attendant  suf- 
fering to  awaken  in  me  a  feeling  of  utter  and  des- 
perate rebellion  against  the  intolerable  bondage 
which  this  new  phase  of  my  existence  was  to  make 
manifest.  I  cannot  think  of  it  now  without  such 
anguish  of  heart  and  soul  that  even  with  the  hope 
of  possible  escape  before  me,  life  becomes  doubly 
bitter. 

"It  was  at  the  end  of  my  first  year  that  I  received 
an  order  from  the  Particular  Council  to  mate  (the 
word  marriage  is  forbidden^in  the  Spielgarten)  with 
a  young  woman  by  the  name  of  Louise.  There  are 
no  family  names  in  the  Spielgarten  save  those  of  the 
recruits  or  of  the  few  surviving  original  colonists, 
for  the  family  under  a  Socialist  regime  is  non-ex- 
istent. 

"Here  I  must  premise  for  a  moment.  In  a  com- 
munity whose  fundamental  political  principles  com- 
pletely sweep  away  all  recognition  of  capitalism,  and 
consequently  either  of  ownership  In  the  instruments 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  113 

of  production  or  of  the  right  of  disposition  of  the 
product  at  the  will  of  the  individual  producer — for 
this  would  constitute  property  in  the  individualistic 
sense — it  would  be  fatal  to  tolerate  an  institution 
which  could  foster  the  instinct  of  mine  as  counter- 
distinct  from  thine.  Under  Socialism  there  is  but 
one  absolute  right,  that  of  the  State,  of  the  Collec- 
tive Right.  As  against  this  supreme  and  sovereign 
good  embodied  in  the  State,  there  can  be  no  right — 
or  claim  on  the  part  of  the  individual,  or  any  group 
of  individuals.  The  moral  basis  of  Socialism  cen- 
ters in  this  conception  of  the  State  as  the  absolute 
and  supreme  good  of  all. 

"The  founders  of  the  Socialist  State  in  the  Spiel- 
garten  laid  down  this  principle  as  their  fundamental 
law.  It  is  the  centre  of  their  Solar  System,  about 
which  everything  else  must  revolve.  They  had  come 
from  a  civilization  founded  on  individualism,  which 
they  called  barbarism,  and  they  had  learned  that  the 
two  great  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  realization  of 
Socialism  were  the  institution  of  Religion  and  the 
institution  of  the  Family. 

"Socialism  could  never  come  to  a  practical  oper- 
ation among  men  until  Religion  and  the  Family  were 
eradicated.  Religion  taught  that  the  supreme  rela- 
tion of  the  Individual  was  to  a  personal  God;  this 
was  supreme  individualism,  making  the  Individual  of 
an  eternal  Importance  and  worth.  Religion,  fur- 
thermore, postulated  a  life  beyond  the  grave  where 
the  evils  of  this  life  were  to  be  adjusted  in  the  bal- 


114  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

ance  of  an  eternal  justice.  Under  this  delusion — I 
am  speaking  the  language  of  Socialism — men  are 
easily  reconciled  to  the  evils  of  this  world  in  the 
hope  of  beatitude  in  another.  Under  such  a  concep- 
tion of  the  universe  men  readily  accept  and  endure 
the  evils  of  life  as  a  part  of  the  divine  scheme — 
nay,  are  taught  to  accept  them  in  the  assurance  of  a 
future  remedy  in  a  life  to  come  and  are,  therefore, 
proof  against  that  radical  discontent  which  Social- 
ism must  arouse  in  them  before  it  can  bring  home  to 
them  the  realization  of  its  own  panacea;  for  all  the 
foul  injustices  which  find  their  sole  source  in  the 
inequality  of  conditions  are  rooted  in  and  fostered 
by  individualistic  institutions. 

^'Redemption  in  a  life  hereafter  can,  therefore, 
have  no  part  in  Socialism.  Social  redemption,  that 
is,  the  total  submergence  of  the  individual  in  the 
welfare  of  the  whole,  is  the  only  religion  compatible 
with  practical  Socialism.  The  State,  therefore,  be- 
comes the  object  of  worship,  as  is  evident  by  my 
citations  from  the  catechism  of  the  Spielgarten.  In 
the  individualistic  system  the  Family  is  the  unit  or 
nucleus  of  civilization.  From  it  springs  the  instinct 
of  private  property.  It  can,  therefore,  have  no  place 
In  the  Spielgarten. 

"In  devising  this  plan  of  government  the  founders 
cut  out  the  Family — root  and  branch.  Family  affec- 
tion would  naturally  carry  with  it  the  desire  of  pro- 
viding primarily  for  one's  own,  a  capital  crime  in  the 
eyes  of  Socialism.  The  love  of  husband  and  wife, 
of  parent  for  child  and  child  for  parent,  the  most 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  115 

Indomitable  in  nature,  would  first  seek  the  welfare 
of  those  to  whom  it  was  bound  by  a  special  tie  and 
so  create  a  radical  antagonism  to  the  collective  good 
as  conceived  by  the  Socialist  State. 

"The  propagation  of  the  race  must,  therefore,  be 
provided  by  other  means  than  the  selfish  institution 
of  marriage.  Free  love  was  out  of  the  question  as 
it  would  lead  to  social  disorder  without  control  or 
direction  and,  moreover,  have  an  individualistic 
basis  In  the  matter  of  choice.  There  was  but  one 
plan  which  could  be  carried  on  with  due  order  and 
under  proper  control,  and  that  was  of  mating  Its  citi- 
zens for  a  stated  period  under  the  direction  and 
supervision  of  the  State  authorities. 

"In  the  Spielgarten  the  Particular  Council  Is  en- 
trusted with  this  duty.  Under  its  direction  men  and 
women  are  mated  for  a  stipulated  period  of  two 
years  and  their  offspring,  as  soon  as  born,  taken  over 
by  the  State  and  reared  in  the  House  of  Infancy, 
under  the  common  charge.  The  mother,  when  the 
time  comes  for  the  birth  of  the  child,  is  taken  to  the 
House  of  Maternity  for  her  confinement  and  never 
sees  her  babe.  Neither  father  nor  mother  know 
their  own  children  In  the  Spielgarten. 

"Children  are  given  no  family  name  and  never 
know  their  own  parents.  In  this  way  the  family 
relation  Is  absolutely  eradicated.  The  temporary 
character  of  the  mating  period  also  conduces  to  check 
the  growth  of  any  permanent  affection  between  the 
mothers  and  the  fathers. 

"It  was  under  this  arrangement  that  I  was  mated 


ii6  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

with  Louise,  who  was  born  in  the  Spielgarten  and 
had  never  known  her  own  parents.  I  was  at  iirst 
indifferent  to  the  arrangement,  accepting  the  situa- 
tion as  a  matter  of  course,  under  the  enforced  cir- 
cumstances in  which  I  found  myself.  I  had  for 
some  time  before  this  event  come  to  realize  that  I 
was  in  a  condition  of  servitude  from  which  there 
was  no  way  of  escape.  I  simply  obeyed — there  was 
no  help  for  it — the  mandate  of  the  Particular 
Council. 

"It  was  not  long,  however,  before  I  came  to  the 
realization  of  a  new  horror  in  my  life.  Not  only 
was  I  in  servitude,  but  I  found  that  I  had  entered 
upon  a  new  relation  which,  in  the  end,  was  to  plunge 
me  into  an  abyss  of  cruelty  and  suffering.  I  found, 
after  a  time,  that  I  had  grown  to  love  Louise  with 
an  affection  which  possessed  my  whole  being,  and 
she  in  turn  reciprocated  my  love.  I  loved  her  not  as 
a  lover  might  his  mistress,  but  with  that  profound 
devotion  which  a  man  bears  for  his  wife,  that  we 
were  two  In  one  flesh.  At  the  same  time,  I  wakened 
to  the  horrible  realization  that  the  bond  could  only 
be  temporary,  and  that  we  must,  in  a  short  time,  be 
separated. 

"The  thought  was  torture,  and  I  cursed  the  fate 
that  had  brought  this  new  and  terrible  affliction  upon 
me.  Educated  in  the  Spielgarten,  Louise  had  no 
conception  of  any  other  ideal  in  life  than  what  she 
had  been  taught  under  its  system,  complete  subservi- 
ence to  the  State,  for  the  fulfilment  of  its  design,  and 
this  had  been  the  dominant  note  of  her  education. 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  117 

"The  outside  world  she  only  knew  as  Its  history 
was  rehearsed  through  Socialist  eyes  in  which  indi- 
vidualism stood  for  barbarism.  Its  story  was  the 
wretched  record  of  the  cunning  and  greed  of  the 
few,  who  had  devised  institutions  simply  to  exploit 
and  keep  the  many  in  iniquitous  subjection  to  their 
masters.  Under  the  influence  of  this  idea  her  mind 
and  character  had  been  moulded,  and  I  found  her  as 
I  had  all  the  other  natives,  acquiescent  in  this  child- 
like and  ignorant  conception. 

"She  accepted  things  as  they  were  without  ques- 
tion and  the  events  of  life  as  they  occurred  as  a 
matter  of  course  in  an  established  and  perfected 
order  like  the  sequence  of  day  and  night.  Whatever 
the  allotted  task,  it  was  accepted  without  demur; 
whatever  the  mandate  of  the  State,  it  was  accepted 
and  obeyed  implicitly.  In  short  the  native,  under  the  1 
Socialist  system  in  the  Spielgarten,  is  fashioned 
into  an  automaton;  servitude  is  his  unquestioning 
habit,  the  result  of  a  system  of  education  devised  to 
eliminate  all  individualistic  tendencies. 

"This  I  never  would  have  admitted  before  my 
coming  inTo  the  Spielgarten,  but  I  have  now  seen  it 
demonstrated  and  practised  under  my  very  eyes, 
and,  going  over  the  ground  reflectively  in  my  mind, 
I  now  perceive  that  it  is  simply  the  logical  outcome 
of  the  system.  As  a  Socialist,  I  would  have  indig- 
nantly repudfated  this  as  a  forecast  of  the  workings 
of  Socialism.  But  what  I  have  actually  experi- 
enced in  the  Spielgarten,  and  what  I  have  come  to 


ii8  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

know   in  the   concrete,    is   its   inevitable   operation. 

"When  I  now  reflect  I  recall  how  evasive  Socialist 
literature  and  Socialist  arguments  were  in  regard 
to  its  practical  workings.  Indeed,  the  stress  of  all 
Socialist  pleading  is  laid  upoh  the  existing  evils 
of  capitalism  and  individualism  with  the  assertive 
prophecy  of  their  remedy  by  the  adoption  of  Social- 
ism; but  when  it  comes  to  an  explicit  exposition  of 
its  actual  operation  in  detail.  Socialism  evaporates 
into  a  vague  outline  of  a  paradisial  condition  in  the 
dim  future. 

"It  makes  a  tremendous  promise,  but  elusively  re- 
fuses to  limn  the  picture  in  its  fulfilment.  The  truth 
is,  Socialist  writers  dare  not  trace  the  plan  of  their 
scheme  to  its  logical  conclusion  for  two  decided  rea- 
sons. In  the  first  place,  the  natural  individualism  of 
mankind  would  revolt  at  the  picture  of  the  result;  in 
the  second,  the  conclusion  would  be  in  such  startling 
contradiction  to  the  Socialist  ideal  that  the  Socialist 
would  find  himself  hoist  by  his  own  petard  and  this 
for  the  reason  that  the  average  Socialist,  i.e.,  the 
Socialist  who  is  not  a  leader,  entertains  an  ideal  in 
direct  contravention  of  the  logical  outcome  of  his 
creed.  The  ordinary  Socialist — I  am  here  speak- 
ing of  the  rank  and  file — in  which  I  once  included 
myself — allies  himself  with  the  Socialist  movement 
not  because  he  is  really  a  collectivist,  but  because  he 
is  an  extreme  individualist. 

"What  he  covets  is  absolute  freedom,  and  he 
imagines  that  the  way  to  it  is  by  substituting  for  the 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  119 

institution  of  capitalism,  which  he  regards  as  the 
tyranny  of  a  class,  the  ownership  of  all  capital  by 
the  State,  which  he  has  come  to  regard  as  an  institu- 
tion of  which  he  will  be  one  of  the  proprietors.  He 
fancies  that  in  this  way  he  would  immediately  achieve 
ownership  and,  therefore,  free  himself  from  the  ne- 
cessity of  serving  another  and  so  become  a  freeman, 
which  in  his  mind  is  emancipation  from  the  tyranny 
of  capitalism.  Whereas,  the  bitter  fact  is  that  in 
making  this  exchange  he  not  only  surrenders  his  in- 
dividualism, but  absolutely  eliminates  his  only  pos- 
sibility of  ever  becoming  an  owner  at  all,  for  the 
common  proprietorship  of  all  capital  by  the  State 
means  the  particular  servitude  of  every  citizen.  He, 
as  an  instrument  of  production,  is  owned  just  as 
much  by  the  State  as  any  other  tool.  Liberty  in  the 
economic  sense  means  the  individual  right  to  become 
a  possessor  of  property,  and  if  this  opportunity  be 
absolutely  withheld  from  individual  achievement,  as 
it  necessarily  is  under  Socialism,  the  citizen  faces  the 
inevitable  consequence  of  always  remaining  a  simple 
worker  in  the  service  of  the  State,  the  sole  pro- 
prietor, 

"It  is  this  delusion,  like  the  mirage  in  the  desert, 
that  lures  the  rank  and  file  of  Socialists  to  an  ac- 
ceptance of  its  doctrine.  They  embrace  Socialism 
under  the  false  supposition  that  it  leads  to  an  easy 
freedom  from  service  to  another.  They  rail  at 
capitalism  as  a  system  of  economic  slavery,  little 
realizing  that  the  practical  outcome  of  the  Social- 


I20  CRUCIBLE  ISLAiND 

ist  scheme,  not  only  imposes  upon  them  a  system 
of  helotry  worse  than  capitalism  ever  devised,  a  con- 
dition of  servitude  which  has  its  only  parallel  in  the 
slave  system  of  the  ancient  world.  More  than  this 
and  worse  than  this,  they  utterly  fail  to  realize  that 
with  this  economic  servitude  there  comes  an  utter 
degradation  of  the  sexual  relation  between  man  and 
woman  in  the  entire  extinction  of  the  family. 

"It  is  with  this  latter  phase  of  Socialism  that  I  am 
now  most  concerned,  for  It  has  branded  itself  like 
a  burning  iron  into  my  heart  and  soul. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

"When  Louise  first  came  to  me,  she  had  all  the 
limitations  of  a  native  of  the  Spielgarten,  but  I  soon 
discovered  that  she  was  a  woman  of  good  mental 
qualities,  with  quick  apprehension,  ready  imagina- 
tion and  a  profound  sympathy,  added  to  which  was 
a  depth  of  sweetness  of  character  that  awakened  my 
surprise  and  bound  me  in  ardent  devotion.  She  had 
never  been  really  developed.  She  was  like  a  bird 
which  had  been  always  confined  in  a  cage  and  had 
never  been  able  to  try  its  wings.  By  degrees  I  awak- 
ened her  broader  intelligence  and  quickened  her 
sympathies  and  her  character.  She  expanded  and 
grew  surprisingly  under  the  influence  vrhich  I  was 
able  to  bring  to  bear,  from  mtj^  experience  in  the 
outer  world. 

"I  told  her  of  that  outer  world  and  that  larger 
life  of  humanity  beyond  the  narrow  limits  of  the 
Spielgarten,  its  hopes,  its  struggles,  its  ambition,  all 
that  mankind  had  suffered  and  achieved  in  the  course 
of  the  ages  in  its  endeavor  to  establish  liberty  in 
order  and  in  justice. 

"We  became,  indeed,  two  in  one  flesh  and  in  one 

121 


122  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

mind,  so  indissolubly  bound  that  to  be  parted  seemed 
to  be  worse  than  death.  The  time  arrived  when  she 
was  to  give  birth  to  her  child.  She  was  taken  to  the 
House  of  Maternity  and  when  she  returned  to  me 
there  was  a  deeper  and  tenderer  yearning  in  her 
eyes  than  I  had  ever  seen  before. 

"She  had  become  a  mother,  but  she  had  never 
seen  her  babe.  She  threw  herself  into  my  arms  and 
sobbed  as  if  her  heart  were  breaking.  'O  Robert, 
my  baby,  my  baby,'  she  sobbed  convulsively.  'They 
took  it  from  me;  I  cried  out  for  it  and  begged  them 
to  let  me  hold  it,  even  for  a  little  moment,  but  they 
would  not,  they  would  not.' 

"And  as  I  held  her  in  my  arms  the  agony  of  her 
grief  shook  her  frame  and  pierced  my  own  heart 
like  a  red  hot  steel.  I  tried  to  soothe  and  console 
her — how  impotent  my  words  ! — ^but  in  my  soul  was 
a  dumb  rage.  I  cursed  the  Moloch  of  Socialism. 
Had  I  only  the  power  to  smash  this  idol  of  hell  and 
topple  it  over  once  for  all,  this  foul  monster  which 
feeds  on  the  hearts  and  souls  of  the  men  and  women 
of  the  Spielgarten!  What  a  colossal  Irony  of  fate! 
Humanity  in  the  Spielgarten  has  built  up  a  system 
of  government  In  its  own  name  which  has  devoured 
Its  very  heart  and  soul,  leaving  but  a  painted  sem- 
blance, an  empty  husk  of  Itself. 

"In  time  a  second  child  was  born  to  her,  but 
Louise  never  returned  to  me  from  the  House  of 
Maternity;  she  died  In  child-birth,  though  the  In- 
fant survived,  and,  as  was  the  custom,  was  taken  to 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  123 

the  House  of  Infancy  to  be  reared.  In  the  Splel- 
garten  are  my  two  children,  whom  I  have  never 
even  seen  and  will  never  know. 

"For  a  time  after  Louise's  death,  I  was  like  a  man 
stricken.  A  heavy  apathy  seized  upon  me.  I  went 
about  my  appointed  tasks  as  if  in  a  dream.  I  walked 
about  among  shadows  and  cared  nothing. 

"In  due  course,  nature  reasserted  herself  and  life 
again  flowed  normally  through  my  veins,  but  a  hard- 
ened grief  and  a  grim  hopelessness  had  fixed  them- 
selves in  my  very  marrow. 

"It  was  not  long,  just  three  months  aft^r  Loaisc's 
death,  before  a  second  order  came  from  the  Particu- 
lar Council  to  mate  again.  When  I  received  it,  I 
felt  my  blood  surge  furiously.  I  threw  the  order  on 
the  ground  and  stamped  it  into  the  earth,  and  swore 
in  my  heart  that  come  what  would,  I  would  defy  it. 
It  was  sheer  madness,  I  knew,  but  such  a  loathing 
had  risen  in  me  at  the  bare  thought,  such  a  revul- 
sion at  the  outrage  upon  my  love  for  Louise,  at  be- 
ing thus  brought  to  the  level  of  the  mere  brute,  that 
I  rebelled  in  every  fibre  of  my  being.  To  refuse 
was  treason  In  the  code  of  the  Spielgarten  and  meant 
death,  but  I  determined  that  if  I  was  to  die — and  for 
what  had  I  to  live? — I  would  not  die  tamely,  I  would 
die  fighting.  Then  a  wild  idea  flashed  upon  me — 
escape!     B\it  how  hopeless  that  seemed! 

"Between  me  and  the  outer  world  lay  those  grim 
mountain  ranges  and  beyond  these  the  vast  ocean. 
To  attempt  to  get  out  by  the  way  of  the  pass  that  I 


124  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

had  entered  meant  certain  death.  Still,  if  it  came  to 
the  last  resort,  why  not?  Better  death  that  way 
than  by  execution  in  the  Spielgarten.  How  I  had 
begun  to  hate  the  very  name  of  Socialism!  Come 
what  might,  I  resolved  that  I  would  not  die  by  the 
fiat  of  the  Socialist  State. 

"A  month,  as  was  the  custom,  was  to  intervene 
between  the  order  of  the  Particular  Council  and  the 
ceremony  of  mating.  This  gave  me  breathing  time 
to  consider.  The  more  I  pondered,  the  more  to  my 
liking  seemed  the  plan  of  braving  an  escape  by  way 
of  the  mountains.  There  was  the  element  of  adven- 
ture in  it,  and  though  it  seemed  eventually  futile, 
might  not  there  be  a  bare  chance,  after  all?  At 
any  rate,  I  was  desperately  resolved  to  defy  the 
order. 

"When  a  young  man  I  had  made  several  trips 
into  the  mountain  region  of  the  western  United 
States  and  had  there  gained  some  little  experience 
In  mountain  climbing  and  learned  something  of 
mountain  topography.  I  immediately  began  study- 
ing the  lay  of  the  mountains  surrounding  the  Spiel- 
garten. To  the  south  flowed  the  river,  making  its 
exit  through  a  lofty  gorge,  whence  it  was  precipi- 
tated in  a  steep  cataract  toward  the  sea.  To  at- 
tempt an  exit  here  was  certain  destruction. 

"The  only  possible  course  as  nearly  as  I  could  sur- 
mise lay  over  the  range  to  the  east  below  Mt.  Bebel, 
where  I  observed  a  lower  range  running  up  to  and 
meeting  the  foothills  flung  out  from  the  base  of  this 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  125 

towering  peak.  If  indications  counted  for  anything 
in  such  a  formation,  judging  from  my  experience  in 
the  Rocky  Mountains  of  America,  there  would  be  a 
possible  pass  lying  to  the  south  of  Mt.  Bebel,  open- 
ing upon  a  probable  valley  between  the  range  bor- 
dering upon  the  Spielgarten  and  the  range  beyond, 
whose  highest  peaks,  though  hidden  from  view  from 
the  eastern  side,  were  observable  from  the  western 
side  of  the  valley  of  the  Spielgarten. 

"My  idea  was  that  by  striking  into  the  foothills 
at  the  southern  base  of  Mt.  Bebel,  where  there  was 
an  evident  depression  indicating  a  pass,  I  might 
strike  the  head  of  the  valley  just  beyond  the  immedi- 
ate range,  which  bordered  the  Spielgarten  on  the 
east,  and  follow  it  down  towards  the  river  below  the 
point  of  the  cataract. 

"All  this  was,  of  course,  conjecture,  but  the  more 
I  scrutinized  the  topography  of  these  ranges,  the 
more  convinced  I  grew  that  I  was  right  in  my  sur- 
mise. At  any  rate,  if  I  contemplated  escape  at  all, 
I  must  make  a  hazard  somewhere,  and  this  seemed 
the  most,  if  not  the  only,  likely  spot. 

'I  proceeded  to  make  my  preparations./  I  secreted 
a  stout  rope  some  thirty  feet  in  length',"'"  Blankets  I 
had  at  hand.  It  was  with  some  difficulty  I  secured 
leather  straps,  which  I  fashioned  into  a  tump-line, 
such  as  the  woodsmen  and  Indians  use  In  America. 
A  hatchet  was  easily  obtained  and  a  stout  jackknife 
I  already  possessed.  As  there  were  no  firearms  in 
the  Spielgarten,  I  could,  of  course,  obtain  none. 


126  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

"I  managed  to  gather  bread  and  bacon  sufficient 
for  several  days,  though  on  the  score  of  food  I  had 
no  apprehension,  as  fruit  grew  abundantly  every- 
where in  the  island, 

"It  was  just  two  weeks  after  I  had  received  the 
order  of  the  Particular  Council  to  mate  again  that 
one  day  after  nightfall  T  set  out  on  my  adventure 
of  escape.  My  provisions  I  had  rolled  in  my  blan- 
kets, which  were  carried  strapped  on  my  back  in  the 
way  of  a  pack  and  held  by  the  tump  which  passed 
over  the  shoulders  and  then  encircled  the  forehead, 
leaving  my  hands  and  arms  entirely  freei.  The 
hatchet  was  secured  on  the  outside  of  the  pack  by 
the  straps  encircling  it. 

"There  was  no  moon  at  the  time,  but  as  in  all 
tropical  climates,  the  light  of  the  stars  gave  sufficient 
illumination  to  pick  my  way.  I  avoided  roads  and 
struck  directly  across  the  fields.  After  two  hours 
of  steady  walking,  I  reached  the  first  slopes,  and 
after  resting  a  little  and  refreshing  myself  with  a 
mouthful  of  food,  I  began  the  ascent. 

"It  was  arduous  though  not  difficult  cWrtibing,  and 
by  midnight  I  must  have  been  at  least  six  miles  from 
my  starting  point.  Here  I  halted  and,  rolling  up 
in  my  blankets,  flung  myself  on  tlTe  ground  and  slept. 
When  I  awoke  the  sun  must  have  been  up  an  hour 
or  more.  I  had  no  thought  of  pursuit.  The  people 
in  the  Spielgarten  would  never  dream  of  my  at- 
tempting to  escape  and  even  if  they  did,  they  would 
scarcely  coMcern  themselves  over  my  flight,  as  the 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  127 

utter  folly  of  such  an  attempt  was  too  well  under- 
stood. I  would  either  return  baffled  by  fhe  desper- 
ate character  of  the  enterprise,  or  perish  in  the 
mountains.  Moreover,  no  one  knew  the  direction 
I  had  taken. 

"Nevertheless,  I  was  eager  to  push  on,  and  after 
breakfasting  hurriedly  on  the  bread  and  bacon  I 
continued  the  ascent,  a  good  half  of  the  mountam 
still  remaining  to  be  achieved. 

"It  was  midday  before  I  reached  the  summit  of 
the  ridge  up  which  I  had  been  laboring.  I  imagine 
I  must  have  then  attained  a  height  of  some  four 
thousand  feet  above  the  Spielgarten.  From  the  top, 
which  was  sparsely  wooded  with  a  kind  of  spruce 
I  had  never  seen  before,  I  obtained  a  good  idea  of 
my  position.  To  the  west  lay  the  Spielgarten  with 
the  river  winding  through  forest  and  field.  Marx- 
ville  was  almost  opposite,  a  little  to  the  south.  Mt. 
Bebcl  soared  above  me  to  the  north,  clothed  in  snow, 
reaching  an  altitude,  I  roughly  guessed,  of  fifteea 
thousand  feet. 

"On  the  east  another  valley  lay  some  fifteen 
hundred  feet  below  and  rising  from  it  on  the 
other  side  a  ridge  higher  by  some  two  thousand  feet 
or  more  than  the  one  on  which  I  stood.  Back  of 
that  again  some  two  or  thre»  miles  a  lofty  and 
rugged  range  ran  parallel,  on  the  north  sweeping 
up  to  Mt.  Bebel,  and  to  the  south  presenting  a  suc- 
cession of  jagged  peaks,  curving  with  the  shore  of 
the  island. 


128  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

"The  valley  immediately  below  me  terminated  In 
a  precipitous  caiion.  I  concluded,  therefore,  that 
my  course  was  still  directly  to  the  east  over  the  sec- 
ond ridge  confronting  me  and  thence  into  the  second 
valley  beyond,  which  I  hoped  led  downward  towards 
the  mouth  of  the  riv*er  at  the  lower  end  of  the  island. 
I  forthwith  began  to  descend  and  In  an  hour  found 
myself  at  the  bottom,  where  I  gathered  some  fruit 
to  replenish  my  stock  of  provisions. 

"The  ascent  of  the  second  ridge  I  found  ex- 
tremely laborious,  encountering  in  many  places  loose 
gravel  and  sand,  and  when  night  overtook  me  I  had 
climbed  scarcely  three-fourths  of  the  way  up. 
Thoroughly  worn  out,  I  ensconced  myself  on  an  edge 
of  the  rock,  which  afforded  the  only  level  ground  I 
could  find,  and  slept  heavily  despite  the  hardness  of 
my  bed. 

*'By  daylight  I  was  up,  and  sturdily  pushed  on- 
ward, reaching  the  top  about  eleven  o'clock.  As  I 
had  surmised,  I  found  a  second  valley  on  the  other 
side,  but  to  my  surprise  it  was  shallow,  not  more  than 
a  few  hundred  feet  below  me,  and  spreading  out  to 
the  range  beyond  in  a  plain  strewn  with  immense 
boulders. 

"Through  it  ran  a  shallow  stream  ten  or  twelve 
feet  wide,  from  which  I  drank  long  and  copiously,  as 
I  had  had  no  water  since  the  preceding  day.  The 
stream  flowed  south,  and  I  followed  its  course  with 
the  conviction  that  It  must  somewhere  below  flow 
into  the  river.    Except  for  the  boulders,  which  neces- 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  129 

sitated  constant  detours,  the  way  was  easy,  but  after 
some  three  miles  I  was  brought  to  an  abrupt  stop. 
The  stream  shot  over  an  immense  precipice  a  thou- 
sand feet  in  depth.  It  fell  sheer,  and  as  far  as  one 
could  see  there  was  no  way  down.  On  either  side, 
and  here  the  valley  converged  to  a  space  of  some- 
thing like  five  hundred  feet  in  width,  there  was  noth- 
ing but  steep  walls  of  rock  which  only  a  winged  crea- 
ture might  essay. 

"Up  to  this  (I  pursued  my  way  with  but  one  defi- 
nite thought,  to  get  out  of  the  Spielgarten.  I  pushed 
forward,  spurred  by  this  goad,  in  a  fever  of  desire, 
and  as  long  as  no  serious  obstacle  barred  my  prog- 
ress, I  reckoned  neither  the  fatigue  nor  the  distress. 
But  now  that  what  seemed  an  effective  barrier  to 
my  going  checked  me,  a  reaction  set  in  and  my  spir- 
its fell. 

"I  was  two  days'  journey  now  from  the  Spiel- 
garten, some  six  thousand  feet  above  its  level,  I 
judged.  The  region  was  arid,  the  vegetation  sparse, 
in  this  rock-strewn  valley.  My  provisions  were  low, 
for  In  the  expectation  of  finding  ample  fruit,  I  had 
consumed  my  stock  with  little  regard  to  the  future. 
All  that  was  left  was  a  little  bacon  and  bread,  barely 
enough  for  a  single  meal,  and  I  perceived  that  no 
fruit  trees  grew  at  that  altitude.  I  must  either  go 
forward  or  retreat.  Rather  than  the  latter,  I  felt 
I  preferred  to  perish  amid  the  desolation  around 
me. 

"Save  for  the  flow  of  the  stream,  the  silence  was 


I30  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

profound.  I  was  tired  out,  and  yet  in  a  fever  to  go 
on.  In  front  of  me  yawned  the  great  chasm,  appar- 
ently impassable.  Lying  flat  upon  ray  stomach,  I 
gazed  down  over  the  edge  into  the  abyss,  searching 
in  vain  for  some  evidence  of  a  way  down;  nothing 
but  sheer  rock  met  my  straining  sight.  So  far  below 
was  the  bottom  that  the  stream  broke  midway  into 
a  rain,  and  there  was  no  souhd  of  its  waters  as  they 
fell  upon  the  rocks  beneath. 

"A  lassitude  crept  over  my  body  and  dejection 
seized  upon  my  mind,  partly  due,  no  doubt,  to  fa- 
tigue, which  had  begim  to  make  itself  keenly  felt 
after  my  two  days  of  strenuous  effort.  Recovering 
myself,  I  drew  back  from  the  dizzy  edge,  and  for  a 
moment  gave  myself  up  to  the  bitter  thought  of  the 
helplessness  of  my  position. 

"What  was  I  to  do?  To  go  back  was  to  admit 
defeat  and  return  to  the  intolerable  slavery  of  the 
Spielgarten.  To  go  forward  seemed  impossible. 
I  had  not  eaten  since  morning,  and  as  it  was  then 
well  into  the  afternoon  I  felt  the  need  of  food.  I 
divided  my  rations  and  ate  only  half,  though  all 
would  not  have  been  nearly  enough  to  satisfy  my 
craving.  Little  as  it  was,  with  the  food  came  re- 
newed strength  and  a  sense  of  encouragement. 

"I  determined  to  search  further,  and  cautiously 
skirted  the  right-hand  side  of  the  precipice,  peering 
over  and  down  the  abyss  every  two  or  three  hundred 
feet,  only  to  gaze  hopelessly  into  its  sheer  void. 
After  a  mile's  barren  pursuit  in  this   fashion,   the 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  131 

precipice  turned  suddenly  at  right  angles  and  I 
found  myself  on  the  edge  of  a  smaller  canon  running 
back  into  the  range  I  was  traversing.  Its  opposite 
walls  were  not  more  than  a  hundred  feet  away,  but 
both  these  and  the  side  upon  which  I  stood  fell  pre- 
cipitously away  without  the  possibility  of  a  descent. 

"Yet  I  was  greatly  encouraged.  This  was  evi- 
dently an  abutting  caiion  on  the  larger  one,  and, 
judging  from  its  appearance,  could  not  run  very  far 
back  into  the  range,  and  at  its  head  there  was  more 
than  likely  a  possible  way  of  descent,  for  I  remem- 
bered, out  of  my  Rocky  Mountain  experiences,  that 
a  caiion  tributary  to  a  larger  one,  -as  this  evidently 
was,  was  not  usually  of  any  considerable  length,  and 
gradually  sloped  down  from  the  mountain  at  its 
head,  owing  to  the  accumulation  of  debris  from  the 
frequent  washing  of  water  from  the  heights  above. 

"Greatly  heartened  by  these  considerations,  I 
followed  the  lip  of  the  smaller  canon  upward  with 
renewed  hope  and  resolution.  It  was  longer  than 
I  supposed,  running  back  a  full  two  miles,  and  it 
was  about  sunset  when  I  reached  its  head.  My  joy 
"was  inexpressible  to  find  that,  as  I  had  surmised,  its 
sides  shelved  down  at  its  head,  though  not  unbroken. 
I  walked  around  the  entire  segment,  carefully  sur- 
veying its  sides  for  the  best  spot^to  essay  a  descenfe 
The  average  angle  of  the  slope  was  at  least  seventy- 
degrees.  For  the  most  part  it  was  composed  of 
loose  gravel  with  here  and  there  boulders  thrusting 
out,  and  occasionally  sheer  rock.    I  finally  selected  a 


132  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

place  that  seemed  to  afford  the  least  difficulty  and 
after  cutting  a  strong  stock  from  a  tree  I  began 
slowly  and  cautiously  to  descend. 

"My  stock  stood  me  in  good  stead,  for  the  loose 
gravel  gave  alarmingly  under  my  feet,  and  it  was 
only  by  firmly  planting  the  stock  in  the  gravel  below 
it  that  I  saved  myself  from  sliding  bodily  down  with 
the  constantly  loosened  soil  at  every  step.  Once  I 
did  slide  some  twenty  feet  in  spite  of  the  stock  and 
was  only  saved  by  a  boulder  in  my  path,  which  was, 
fortunately,  buried  deep  enough  to  resist  the  impact 
of  my  body  A  cold  sweat  broke  out  over  me,  for, 
except  for  the  happy  intervention  of  the  boulder,  I 
would  have  shot  down  over  a  sheer  drop  of  some 
twenty-five  feet  just  below. 

"This  made  me  doubly  cautious,  and  I  proceeded 
step  by  step,  planting  my  stock  deep  in  the  earth  at 
each  advance.  Half-way  down  I  came  upon  a  jut- 
ting ledge,  having  a  clear  fall  of  about  forty 
feet,  which  I  could  find  no  way  to  circumvent. 
Here  I  had  to  make  use  of  my  rope,  which  I  fastened 
securely  to  a  jagged  edge  of  rock,  but  as  it  was  not 
more  than  thirty  feet  long,  when  I  reached  the  end 
I  was  forced  to  drop  some  ten  feet,  but  as  it  was 
loose  gravel  below,  I  did  so  with  no  injurious  re- 
sults save  the  burning  of  my  feet  somewhat.  The 
rope,  however,  was  left  out  of  reach,  fastened  to 
the  rock  above,  and  so  I  was  forced,  to  my  regret, 
to  leave  it  behind. 

"The  remainder  of  the  descent,  though  fraught 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  133 

with  some  labor  here  and  there,  I  at  last  successfully 
achieved.  When  I  reached  the  bottom  the  sun  was 
behind  the  mountains  and  in  the  depth  of  the  caiion 
deep  shadows  made  it  almost  night.  Spreading  my 
blankets,  over-wearied,  though  rejoicing  in  my  heart 
in  my  success  in  iat  last  reaching  the  bottom  of  the 
valley,  which  I  believed  to  lead  out  upon  the  river 
at  the  southern  end  of  the  island,  I  slept  soundly 
until  morning. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

"I  HAD  accomplished  the  most  difficult  part  of  my 
journey,  as  the  event  proved.  The  canon  into  which 
I  had  descended  embouched,  as  I  have  already  de- 
scribed, into  the  larger  caiion,  which  was  in  reality 
the  head  of  the  valley  leading  to  the  river,  about  six 
miles  below  the  point  of  my  descent.  After  tra- 
versing the  smaller  caiion  to  its  mouth  and  entering 
the  larger  one,  I  pursued  my  way  along  the  stream, 
whose  waters  re-assembled  after  their  fall  of  a  thou- 
sand feet,  and  thence  flo^^ed  uninterruptedly  into  the 
river  beyond. 

"I  estimate  the  distance  from  the  junction  of  the 
two  cafions  to  the  riv^er  as  six  miles.  This  was  tra- 
versed with  comparative  ease,  presenting  no  difficulty 
save  its  roughness  from  frequent  stones  and  boul- 
ders. The  lower  end  of  the  valley  I  found  plenti- 
fully supplied  with  the  fruit  trees  indigenous  to  the 
island,  so  that  I  entertained  no  apprehension  of  lack 
of  food. 

"Footsore,  though  relieved  of  my  anxiety  that  I 
might  fail  in  reaching  the  valley,  I  pursued  my  way 
at  a  less  eager  pace,  and  rested  at  noon  for  a  full 

134 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  135 

hour  before  setting  out  to  explore  the  mouth  of  the 
stream  as  it  enters  into  the  river,  the  roar  of  whose 
great  cataract  I  had  heard  for  some  time  In  the  dis- 
tance. 

"When  I  did  reach  the  mouth  it  was  with  a  beat- 
ing heart,  for  I  had  arrived  at  what  seemed  to  me  the 
verge  of  freedom.  The  stream  just  before  debouch- 
ing into  the  river  shot  raucously  down  a  narrow 
gorge  at  an  angle  of  thirty  degrees,  formed  a  deep 
pool  at  the  bottom,  and  then  for  some  fifty  paces, 
between  thickly  wooded  banks,  flowed  quietly  into 
the  river. 

"A  hundred  yards  above  the  mouth  of  the  little 
stream  thundered  the  great  cataract  in  a  steady 
volume,  in  an  unbroken  fall  of  over  fifty  feet 
in  height,  with  a  width  from  shore  to  shore  of  three 
times  the  distance  of  its  height.  The  descent  of  the 
gorge  was  easy  as  the  stream  was  shallow,  and  filled 
with  rocks  and  boulders,  which  afforded  ready  foot- 
ing. The  side  of  the  pool,  however,  was  steep,  and 
I  had  some  difficulty  in  holding  my  footing  as  I 
climbed  along,  but  after  that  I  easily  found  my  way 
to  the  river's  edge. 

"The  river  here  flowed  deeply  and  quietly  be- 
tween sloping  and  thickly  wooded  banks  that  gradu- 
ally rose  to  mountain  heights  on  either  side. 
Keeping  to  the  left-hand  bank,  which  was  fairly  open 
along  the  shore,  (I  soon  turned  a  slight  bend,  where 
I  came  in  full  view,  half  a  mile  below,  of  a  small, 
concave  bay  into  which  the  river's  flood  swept^  ^JBe- 


136  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

yond  lay  the  sea,  the  sight  of  which  made  me  catch 
my  breath  sharply. 

"I  was  startled,  as  my  eye  caught,  in  the  scene 
before  me,  a  small  square  stone  structure,  on  the  op- 
posite banl:,  just  where  river  and  bay  met.  I  stood 
for  a  moment  spellbound,  so  unexpectedly  was  this 
sudden  vision  of  a  human  habitation  in  this  place. 
Then  a  glint  of  light  from  a  polished  object  flashed 
in  my  eyes.  There  was  a  soldier  pacing  up  and 
down  in  front  of  the  building,  from  whose  shoul- 
dered rifle  the  sun's  rays  had  gleamed  into  my  eyes. 
I  realized  now.  The  mouth  of  the  river  was 
guarded.  The  house  was  a  barracks.  The  guar- 
dians of  the  Spielgarten  had  placed  a  garrison  at 
this  point  against  the  possible  chance  of  anyone  seek- 
ing an  exit  here,  remote  as  I  well  knew  that 
possibility  was.  I  drew  back  hastily  into  the  screen- 
ing foliage.     Had  I  been  seen? 

"The  soldier  continued  his  pacing  unperturbed. 
He  had  not  discovered  me.  I  felt  my  heart  beating 
violently.  I  had  stumbled  into  a  sudden  danger. 
I  stood  watching  intently,  with  a  sort  of  fascina- 
tion, the  stone  house.  What  was  to  be  done?  Far- 
ther advance  was  clearly  cut  off.  Throwing  myself 
upon  the  ground,  from  under  some  overhanging 
shrubbery,  I  continued  my  scrutiny  of  the  scene  be- 
fore me  and  cast  about  in  my  mind  what  course  to 
take. 

"My  first  thought  was  one  of  utter  despair,  but, 
after  reflecting  for  a  while,  I  began  to  realize  that 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  137 

after  all  I  must  In  the  end  arrive  at  just  the  situation 
that  now  confronted  me.     Indeed,  as  I  turned  the 
matter  over  m  my  mind,  was  this  not  a  possible  step 
m   furtherance   of  my  design?     Had  I   found  the 
shore  deserted,  my  progress  was  effectually  barred 
by  the  open  sea  beyond.     I  had  ruminated  all  alorfg 
some  vague  idea  of  building  a  raft  and  trusting  my- 
self to  the  precarious  mercy  of  the  sea,  but  now  It 
presented  itself  to  my  mind  that  here  there  was 
perhaps,  an  opportunity  of  possibly,  under  cover  of 
night,  seizing  a  boat,  should  one  be  at  hand,   and 
putting  out  to  sea. 

"From  my  present  position  that  side  of  the  little 
bay  behind  the  stone  house  was  entirely  cut  off  from 
view.  I  must  reconnoiter  further.  At  present,  as 
It  was  near  sunset,  there  was  no  alternative  but  to 
retreat  into  the  valley  for  the  night  and  resume  fur- 
ther investigations  the  next  day. 

"Deeply  pondering  over  the  situation,  I  turned 
back  and  traced  my  way  up  the  gorge,  and  after  re- 
plenishing the  physical  man  with  the  various  fruits 
1  found  abundantly  at  hand,  I  gave  myself  up  to 
rest  for  the  night. 

"I  was  up  early  the  next  morning  and  Immedi- 
ate y  started  out  on  my  reconnoiter.  Carefully  con- 
cealing myself  in  the  shrubbery,  I  followed  the  bank 
ot  the  river  where  it  flowed  into  the  bay.  Here  I 
had  an  unobstructed  view  of  the  bay  and  barracks 
just  opposite,  not  more  than  two  hundred  yards 
away. 


138  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

"A  sentry,  as  on  the  evening  before,  paced  off  the 
space  in  front  of  the  house.  I  scanned  the  shore 
in  vain  for  any  sign  of  a  boat.  The  placid  waters 
were  empty,  as  was  the  sweep  of  the  beach,  of  a 
boat  of  any  kind.  On  my  side  there  was  plainly  no 
road  running  along  the  coast,  nor  from  where  I  was 
could  I  see  any  evidence  of  one  on  the  other  side. 
I  drew  the  conclusion  that  the  garrison's  means  of 
communication  with  the  settlement  at  the  north  end 
of  the  island,  where  I  had  landed  before  being  thrust 
into  the  Spielgarten,  must  be  by  sea.  No  doubt  at 
fixed  intervals  a  boat  must  visit  them  to  convey  pro- 
visions. 

"I  determined  to  wait  and  watch.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  third  day  of  my  vigil  I  was  rewarded  by 
discovering  in  the  bay  a  good-sized  tug  boat  lying 
at  anchor  a  hundred  yards  out  just  off  from  the  stone 
house.  On  the  beach  lay  a  row-boat  with  double 
oar-locks,  and  alongside  three  soldiers  unloading  it 
of  what  were  evidently  supplies.  In  a  few  moments 
three  more  soldiers  issued  from  the  house,  and,  go- 
ing to  the  boat,  began  to  assist  the  others.  Presently 
two  more  men,  sailors  from  their  garb,  came  out  of 
the  houSe  and  joined  the  others.  When  the  boat  was 
empty  the  sailors  entered  it  and  rowed  out  to  the 
tug.  One  of  the  sailors  entered  the  pilot  house  and 
presently  I  heard  the  clang  of  her  bell  signalling 
the  engineer,  while  the  second  sailor  hoisted  the 
anchor  by  means  of  the  windlass.  The  tug  then 
steamed  out  of  the  harbor,  and,  turning  northward, 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  139 

was  soon  lost  to  my  view  around  the  headland  on 
my  side  of  the  river. 

"I  watched  the  scene  with  keen  anxiety,  my  heart 
thumping  hard,  for  here  was  a  possible  opportunity. 
I  immediately  began  to  speculate.  The  tug  had  come 
into  the  bay  some  time  during  the  night.  Did  the 
sailors  then  come  ashore  and  spend  the  night  in  the 
guardhouse,  leaving  their  boat  on  the  beach,  or  did 
they  wait  until  morning?  If  the  former,, my  chance 
of  seizing  the  boat  -while  they  slept  and  of  rowing 
out  to  the  tug  and  boarding  it  while  the  engineer 
slept,  if,  indeed,  he  remained  aboard,  would  be  an 
easy  matter  to  accomplish.  If  the  engineer  spent 
the  night  ashore  (for  I  surmised  that  the  two  sailors 
and  the  engineer  constituted  the  entire  crew),  I  con- 
sidered that  there  would  be  no  trouBle  at  all;  it 
would  be  merely  a  question  of  getting  out  to  the 
tug. 

"But  there  was  the  sentry.  Did  he  pace  his  post 
all  night?  If  so,  it  would  require  extreme  caution 
to  reach  the  tug  without  his  seeing  me,  for,  though 
the  boat  lay  on  the  beach  a  little  back  of  the  house 
and  hidden  from  his  view,  the  tug  v/as  in  full  sight 
as  he  passed  in  the  direction  facing  the  bay,  since 
the  house  stood  lengthwise,  on  the  right-hand  bank 
of  the  river,  which  flowed  directly  east.  As  the 
sentry  paced  his  beat  in  front  of  the  house,  the  tug 
lay  in  full  view,  provided,  of  course,  It  was  always 
anchored  In  the  same  place,  or  even  within  a  radius 
of  a  hundred  feet  of  the  same  place.  At  any  rate, 
this  was  clearly  my  plan.. 


I40  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

"But  to  put  it  into  execution  I  must  be  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river.  I  could  not  cross  it  in  the 
day-time,  as  this  would  bring  me  in  full  view  of  the 
sentry  unless  perhaps  at  midday,  for  then  I  observed 
the  entire  guard,  which  I  now  knew  were  only  six 
soldiers,  busily  engaged  in  a  swim  in  the  bay. 

"Evidently  discipline,  and  this  I  noted  with  pleas- 
ure, was  slack  at  this  remote  post.  The  small  gar- 
rison, no  doubt,  relied  upon  the  seemingly  impass- 
able barriers  of  the  mountains  and  the  river  to  keep 
any  intruder  from  the  Spielgarten  from  disturbing 
the  easy  life  they  were  apparently  enjoying.  Indeed, 
I  frequently  saw  the  sentinel  sitting  at  times  in  re- 
laxation on  a  long  bench  running  along  the  front  of 
the  house  and  sometimes  even  going  inside  for  a  few 
moments.  At  midday  he  always  deserted  his  post 
to  take  his  swim  with  his  comrades. 

"The  next  night  after  the  departure  of  the  tug, 
I  swam  across  the  river,  an  easy  enough  task,  for  I 
am  a  strong  swimmer,  and  slept  until  morning  on 
the  other  bank.  I  then  cautiously  advanced  to  its 
extreme  end,  which  there  terminated  in  an  abrupt 
cliff,  almost  hanging  over  the  roof  of  the  house. 
From  that  vantage  point  I  could  look  down  upon 
it,  not  more  than  fifty  feet  below.  Here  I  could 
make  my  observations  with  ease  and  even  hear  the 
soldiers  talking  when  they  were  not  in  the  building 
Itself.  At  midday  the  entire  six,  as  usual,  took  their 
swim.  They  splashed  and  shouted  noisily  In  the 
water,  like  boys,  for  a  full  half  hour. 

"The  next  day  while  they  were  bathing,  Instead 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  141 

of  going  to  the  top  of  the  cliff,  I  crept  down  to  its 
base  as  near  to  the  house  as  possible,  determining 
upon  an  inspection  of  the  interior.  When  I  heard 
the  men  in  the  water  at  their  usual  gambols,  I 
swiftly  and  cautiously  crept  across  the  intervening 
space  and  entered  the  interior.  There  was  a  single 
room  with  ten  cots  along  the  rear  wall,  a  cooking 
stove  at  one  side  and  along  the  opposite  wall  a  rack 
containing  a  dozen  rifles  and  a  number  of  cartridge- 
belts  and  small  arms.  Evidently  here  was  provision 
for  more  than  six  men.  I  imagined  that  the  super- 
fluous cots  were  for  the  crew  of  the  tug  on  the  nights 
of  their  sojourn. 

"My  immediate  impulse  was  to  seize  a  rifle,  a 
cartridge-belt  and  a  revolver,  but  if  any  of  the  arms 
were  missed,  would  not  suspicion  be  immediately 
aroused?  Dared  I  run  the  risk?  I  hesitated,  gaz- 
ing at  the  tempting  rack.  I  took  down  one  of  the 
rifles  and  examined  it.  It  was  a  Mauser.  I  ex- 
amined the  revolvers.  They  were  six-shooters  of 
the  Colt  pattern.  To  feel  a  gun  in  my  hand  stirred 
my  blood.  To  be  thus  armed  gave  me  a  certain 
sense  of  security  and  if  the  occasion  arose,  I  could 
sell  my  life  dearly.  Without  arms,  I  was  helpless 
as  a  beast  of  the  wilds,  if  it  ever  came  to  a  conflict. 

"I  seized  a  cartridge-belt,  which  was  filled,  and 
adjusted  it  around  my  waist,  picked  out  a  revolver, 
put  it  in  my  pocket  and  hastily  departed.  I  ascended 
to  the  top  of  the  bluff  and  awaited  developments. 
The  men  returned  as  usual  from  their  bathing  and 


142  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

entered  the  house.  The  sentry  resumed  his  post.  I 
lay  on  the  top  of  the  chff  anxiously  waiting  all  the 
afternoon  for  any  sign  on  the  part  of  the  garrison 
of  the  discovery  of  the  missing  weapons.  At  night- 
fall, I  withdrew,  and  swimming  back  across  the  river, 
passed  the  night  as  usual  at  the  head  of  the  gorge. 

"The  next  morning  found  me  at  my  post  on  the 
left  bank  watching,  but  the  day  passed  with  no  sign 
that  the  soldiers  had  found  anything  amiss.  And 
so  the  second  and  third  day  and  finally  a  week 
passed,  until  at  last  my  anxiety  was  relieved  entirely. 
The  weapons  I  had  purloined  had  not  been  missed. 
The  sentry  was  perhaps  the  only  man  who  had  oc- 
casion to  handle  a  weapon,  and  he,  no  doubt,  from 
long  custom,  simply  took  down  a  rifle  from  the  rack 
without  even  so  much  as  glancing  at  the  remainder 
of  the  contents. 

"I  passed  another  week  in  this  wise,  watching  dur- 
ing the  day  and  going  back  at  night  to  the  head  of  the 
gorge  where,  in  a  convenient  place,  I  had  made  a  bed 
of  boughs,  under  a  spreading  bread-fruit  tree.  One 
morning  just  three  weeks  after  the  visit  of  the  tug, 
I  saw  It  enter  the  harbor  again,  and  steam  up  to  the 
anchorage.  Aboard,  beside  the  crew,  were  six  more 
soldiers,  who  were  greeted  vociferously  by  their  fel- 
lows ashore,  who  seemed  to  be  in  high  spirits.  I 
soon  perceived  why!  They  were  being  relieved  by 
the  six  who  had  just  arrived.  Two  hours  after- 
wards, the  six  whom  I  had  found  at  the  barracks  had 
steamed  out  of  the  harboK,  waving  jubilant  farewells 


CKUCIBLE  ISLAND  143 

to  the  new  arrivals  who  had  taken  their  places. 
Meantime  the  tug  had  left  further  provisions. 

"Every  three  weeks  then  was  the  period  of  the 
tug's  visitation.  But  this  last  time  they  had  come  in 
daylight.  Was  the  time  of  the  arrival  irregular, 
sometimes  at  night,  sometimes  in  the  day?  If  in  the 
day,  then  I  had  little  or  no  chance  of  ever  seizing 
the  tug.  I  determined  to  wait  for  another  interval 
of  three  weeks  and  watch  during  the  night,  with- 
drawing during  the  day  to  my  resting  place  at  the 
head  of  the  gorge.  But  I  watched  in  vain.  At  the 
end  of  the  second  week,  and  then  the  third  week,  the 
tug  had  not  made  her  re-appearance.  Clearly  the 
second  visitation  had  been  only  for  the  purpose  of 
relieving  the  garrison  and  I  was  again  at  sea  as  to 
the  time  of  her  possible  return. 

"The  monotony  of  the  situation  began  to  grow 
intolerable.  I  even  thought  of  revealing  myself  to 
the  soldiers,  in  moments  of  desperation,  and  throw- 
ing myself  upon  their  mercy  in  the  hope  that  if  I 
could  induce  them  to  listen  to  my  story  they  might 
take  pity  upon  me.  But  when  I  recalled  the  iron 
regulations  which  had  always  prevailed  in  the  island, 
of  shooting  down  at  sight  any  deserter  from  the 
Spielgarten — and  this  had  occurred  twice  since  my 
advent  there— I  shrank  back  from  the  desperate 
chance. 

"One  day  I  ventured  again  across  the  river,  and 
while  the  soldiers  were  in  bathing  stole  stealthily 
for  the  second  time  into  the  house.    I  looked  around 


144  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

more  leisurely  and  even  sat  down  for  a  moment  m 
a  chair  beside  the  table.  There  was  a  vague  no- 
tion in  my  mind  that  to  sit  again  in  a  chair  was  in 
some  sort  of  way  to  get  back  to  civilization.  As  I 
sat  down  my  arm  brushed  against  what  was  evidently 
a  b^lank  book  lying  there,  I  picked  it  up  and  read 
on  the  cover  in  a  crude  and  sprawling  hand:  'Diary 
of  Hermann  Grund.'  Upon  opening  it  I  discovered 
several  entries  in  the  same  illiterate  handwriting,  but 
they  had  not  gone  beyond  the  third  page. 

"A  happy  thought  flashed  upon  me.  I  would  keep 
a  diary  myself,  detailing  my  experience  in  the  Spiel- 
garten  and  my  escape.  Here  was  the  means  at  hand. 
It  would  give  me  something  to  do  during  these 
dreary  days  of  waiting  and  watching,  and  serve  to 
relieve  the  monotony  and  sometimes  agonizing  sense 
of  isolation  and  loneliness. 

"Jumping  to  my  feet,  the  now  precious  blank-book 
clutched  in  my  hand,  I  searched  around  for  a  pencil. 
There  was  none  on  the  table.  Catching  sight  of  a 
drawer,  I  pulled  it  open  and  was  rewarded  with  the 
discovery  of  some  half-dozen.  I  took  three  and, 
making  a  hasty  exit,  safely  achieved  the  shelter  of 
the  cliff  and  the  woods,  long  before  the  soldiers  re- 
turned. As  soon  as  the  sun  had  set  and  darkness 
favored  me,  I  swam  back  to  the  other  shore,  holding 
the  blank-book  in  my  teeth,  my  head  well  up,  to  keep 
it  from  getting  wet. 

"The  next  morning  I  began  this  account.  God 
knows  no  mortal  eye  may  ever  read  It,  but  the  mere 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  145 

writing  of  it  has  proved  a  safety  valve  for  me.     I 

had  begun  to  despair  almost,  and  at  times  felt  that 

death  would  be  only  too  welcome.     Not  that  I  ever 

dreamed  of  suicide,  for  that  I  am  convinced  would 

be  cowardly,  even  in  so  desperate  a  plight  as  mine, 

and  in  my  heart  I  believe  in  God  and  would  not  go 

before  His  tribunal  with  the  guilt  of  my  own  blood. 

"It  is  now  six  weeks   since  my  flight  from  the 

Spielgarten  and  I  seem  as  far  away  as  ever  from  an 

escape  from  the  island.     One  morning  as  I   came 

down  to  the  river's  bank  on  my  way  to  my  place  of 

lookout,   I  saw  two  soldiers  on  the  opposite  side. 

They  had  not  seen  me,  as  I  had  not  yet  emerged 

from  the  leafy  cover  along  the  shore.     They  were 

fishing  and  intent  upon  their  sport.     I  immediately 

retraced  my  steps  and  climbed  back  to  the  head  of 

the  gorge,  which  I  had  made  my  habitat.     What  if 

they  should  ever  come  across  to  my  side?    Here  was 

a  contingency  that  I  had  not  before  contemplated. 

It  is  true  they  had  no  boat,  but  could  they  not  swim 

across  as  I  had  done?    And  might  not  some  one  or 

two  of  them  in  a  spirit  of  adventure  or  exploration 

some  day  take  the  notion?     I  could  afford  to  take 

no  chances.     It  would  be  more  prudent  for  me  to 

make  my  abode  farther  up  the  valley. 

"I  immediately  proceeded  to  destroy  all  evidences 
of  my  presence  at  the  head  of  the  gorge.  I  then 
selected  a  spot  some  two  miles  above  and  built  a 
hut  of  larger  dimensions  than  the  slighter  structure 
which  I  had  temporarily  erected  at  the  head  of  the 


146  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

gorge.  For  the  wall  I  gathered  stones  and  small 
boulders,  which  were  plentiful  along  the  banks  of 
the  creek,  and  plastered  the  crevices  with  mud  from 
the  bottom.  The  roof  I  made  from  saplings,  over- 
laying them  w4th  a  plentiful  supply  of  palm  boughs. 
I  felt  a  glow  of  satisfaction  upon  its  completion  and 
the  first  night  I  slept  under  its  roof  there  was  almost 
a  sense  of  contentment  in  the  thought. 

''Nothing  has  happened  in  the  past  two  weeks 
since  I  moved  from  the  head  of  the  gorge  to  my 
present  location,  I  have  watched  in  vain  for  the  re- 
appearance of  the  tug.  Again  that  horrible  sense 
of  loneliness  and  oppression  is  coming  over  me.  I 
must  do  something,  one  way  or  the  other.  I  have 
just  returned  from  my  daily  vigil  on  the  headland 
opposite  the  barracks  and  am  writing  these  lines 
just  before  darkness  closes  in.  I  do  not  believe  I 
can  bear  this  strain  much  longer.  Something  must 
eventuate  or  I  shall  go  mad.  It  is  not  merely  the 
dreadful  loneliness,  but  the  Tantalus-like  vicinity  of 
human  beings  whom  I  constantly  see,  but  to  whom  I 
cannot  speak  or  so  much  as  reveal  myself  that  is 
tormenting  me.  At  times  an  almost  irresistible  im- 
pulse comes  over  me  to  shout  at  the  soldiers  on  the 
bank  opposite,  and  I  have  several  times  come  down 
from  the  river  with  a  feverish  determination  of  giv- 
ing myself  up,  but  at  sight  of  the  pacing  sentinel  my 
resolve  has  always  melted  away. 

"I  long  to  brave  the  issue  out  of  sheer  despera- 
tion, yet  as  desperately  fear  to  face  the  peril.    The 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  ^147 

writing  of  this  diary  alone  has  saved  me  either  from 
losing  my  mind,  or  making  the  rash  attempt — ah, 
there  is  the  tug  coming  at  last  into  the  harbor.  It  is 
just  rounding  the  headland.  God  help  me — I  must 
make  the  attempt  to  escape  to-night.  I  cannot  bear 
this  cruel  struggle  between  hope  and  fear  any 
longer  .   .  ." 

Here  the  diary  abruptly  ended.  No  word  or 
inkling  of  how  Lorimer  had  met  his  fate,  for  surely 
this  body  was  Lorimer's,  could  be  gathered  from 
the  faded  pages.  Carl's  heart  was  full  of  a  great 
pity  for  the  young  American  whose  story  he  had 
just  read.  His  own  plight,  however,  was  desperate 
enough.    He  must  be  up  and  doing. 

Lorimer's  story  indicated  a  vv^ay  back  to  the 
Spielgarten,  for  return  by  the  way  Carl  himself  had 
come,  through  the  mountain  and  the  river,  was  an 
impossibility.  He  must  ascend  the  valley  and  then 
climb  the  range  of  mountains  and  follow  Lori- 
mer's route  under  Mt.  Bebel.  But  before  start- 
ing back,  he  determined  to  explore  the  gorge 
and  the  river  below  on  whose  further  bank  the 
guardhouse  was  located,  as  described  in  Lorimer's 
diary. 

Carl  descended  the  stream  to  its  mouth  as  indi- 
cated by  Lorimer,  and  found  the  situation  exactly  as 
the  latter  had  depicted  it.  The  river  into  which  the 
stream  emptied,  with  the  great  falls  just  above,  the 
soldiers'  barracks  on  the  further  bank,  where  the 
larger  stream  emptied  into  the  sea.     After  a  care- 


148  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

ful  reconnoiter  Carl  returned  to  Lorimer's  hut  and 
began  preparations  to  make  his  way  back  to  the 
Spielgarten  over  the  route  described  in  the  pages  of 
the  diary. 


CHAPTER  XV 

But  three  days  remained  before  the  date  set  for 
the  mating  of  Mina.  Clausen  had  petitioned  the 
Particular  Council  to  rescind  its  order  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  date  of  mating,  but  his  prayer  had 
been  denied.  At  first  he  thought  of  going  to  Herr 
Schmidt  to  enlist  the  latter's  aid,  but  felt  that  it 
would  be  futile,  as  he  knew  only  too  well  that  it  was 
through  Schmidt's  machinations  that  the  earlier  date 
had  been  substituted.  Besides,  he  could  not  bring 
Himself  to  sue  for  assistance  from  a  man  whom  he 
knew  not  only  obdurate  by  nature,  but  who  had  been 
always  hostile  to  him. 

Clausen  had  drilled  himself  for  some  years  for 
what  he  knew  would  sometime  become  inevitable, 
the  handing  over  of  his  own  beloved  child  to  a  fate 
which  he  abhorred.  In  the  earlier  conflict  in  the 
Spielgarten,  when  the  issue  whether  the  family  life 
was  to  be  retained  or  the  other  method  of  state 
domination  over  marriage  to  prevail,  he  had  taken 
sides  against  the  now  prevailing  system. 

He  himself  was  the  sole  survivor  of  the  compro- 
mise which  had  been  temporarily  tolerated  by  the 

149 


ISO  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

victorious  party,  namely,  that  families  then  existing 
should  maintain  their  integrity  until  they  should  have 
disappeared  naturally,  in  the  course  of  time.  He 
had  witnessed  the  transition  and  the  finally  complete 
establishment  of  absolute  control  by  the  State  save 
in  his  own  exceptional  case.  And  now  the  time  had 
come  when  he,  too,  the  one  remaining  unit,  was  to 
be  swept  remorselessly  into  the  maelstrom  of  abso- 
lute collectivism.  He  had  tried  to  steel  himself  to 
face  stoically  the  dreadful  issue,  but  now  that  it  had 
arrived,  he  found  his  philosophy  melt  away  like  snow 
in  a  furnace. 

Denis  was  of  no  value  in  this  predicament,  though 
the  Irishman's  sympathy  was  of  some  poor  conso- 
lation. In  his  hot  rage  Denis  was  for  a  grim  fight 
and  a  grim  end  In  a  glorious  battle  against  the 
forces  of  Satan.  But  this  would  not  save  Mina. 
His  daughter's  escape  from  the  hateful  peril  of  mat- 
ing was  the  one  thought  in  Clausen's  mind  and  it 
always  ended  in  an  impasse.  He  felt  like  a  prisoner 
in  an  inon  cell  whose  horrible  walls  were  slowly  but 
surely  closing  in  upon  him. 

Mina  herself  was  growing  thinner  and  whiter  as 
the  day  of  doom  drew  near.  Worse  than  death  it 
seemed  to  the  young  girl  who,  under  her  father's 
protecting  and  solicitous  care,  had  lived  a  life  apart 
from  the  community  routine  of  the  Spielgarten.  Be- 
sides, her  lately  awakened  woman's  love  for  Carl 
had  aroused  in  her  all  a  woman's  loathing  for  the 
fate  that  awaited  her. 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  151 

But  in  spite  of  it  all  she  would  not  give  up  the 
hope,  unreasonable  as  it  seemed,  that  Carl  was  still 
alive.  She  constantly  insisted,  both  to  her  father 
and  to  Denis,  that  Carl  would  yet  return.  Neither 
had  the  heart  to  gainsay  her,  though  both  were  fully 
convinced  that  Carl  had  perished  the  day  he  had 
fallen  into  the  river  just  above  the  cataract. 

And  even  if  Carl  did  return,  of  what  avail  would 
it  be?  Only  one  more  to  suffer  the  dreadful  agony 
of  seeing  her  forced  to  the  loathsome  embraces  of 
Herr  Schmidt.  Both  Denis  and  Clausen,  in  their 
own  hearts,  were  thankful  that  Carl  would  not  be 
there,  though  they  were  careful  not  to  reveal  this 
sentiment  to  Mina. 

Clausen  was  sitting  in  a  blank  despair  at  the  door 
of  his  cottage,  upbraiding  himself  In  his  dark  mood 
that  he  had  kept  MIna  as  a  precious  flower  apart 
from  the  common  life  of  the  Splelgarten  all  these 
years  and  had  not  long  ago  yielded  to  the  system  to 
which  fate  had  consigned  them,  when  he  felt  MIna's 
hand  upon  his  shoulder.  He  grasped  it  convul- 
sively and  held  it  tight. 

"Father,"  said  MIna,  "I  feel  somehow  that  Carl 
will  come  back.  I  don't  know  why,  but  I  feel  some- 
how that  he  is  not  dead,  and  that  when  he  comes  he 
will  save  me." 

"Yes,  my  dear  child,"  answered  Clausen,  though 
his  heart  was  heavy  indeed,  for  he  felt  he  had  no 
right  to  break  the  slender  stem  of  her  unreasonable 
hope  which  seemed  to  be  the  only  thing  that  buoyed 


152  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

her  up  under  the  terrible  burden  that  weighed  upon 
her.  It  was  all  he  could  do  to  restrain  his  tears  in 
the  great  love  and  pity  that  swept  over  him  as  he 
looked  into  the  white  face  of  his  child.  She  had 
been  his  single  solace  in  his  exile — for  to  him  the 
Spielgarten  had  long  ago  become  a  prison  house — 
and  now  to  think  that  she  was  to  be  snatched  from 
him  to  a  fate  that  was  worse  than  death !  He  shud- 
dered at  the  thought  and  his  face  grew  tense  and 
ashen. 

"No,  father,  no,"  Mina  cried,  as  she  read  his 
emotion.  "It  will  never  be.  I  tell  you  Carl  must 
come  back.    I  know  it !    I  know  it !" 

"Yes,  Mina,  Carl  will  come  back,"  repeated  Clau- 
sen after  her,  seeking  refuge  in  an  outward  assent 
to  her  highly  keyed-up  hope.  "Yes,"  he  went  on, 
"Carl  may,  indeed,  have  somehow  escaped  the  cata- 
ract. Such  things  have  happened  before.  It  is  pos- 
sible, I  believe  it  is  possible."  But  he  felt  the  lame- 
ness of  his  speech  as  in  his  inmost  heart  he  knew 
his  words  belied  his  thoughts. 

"And  when  Carl  comes,"  went  on  Mina,  with  in- 
tensity, "everything  will  be  right.  I  feel  it;  I  am 
certain  that  everything  will  be  right." 

At  this  moment  Denis  came  swinging  through  the 
gate,  waving  his  hand  to  Clausen  and  Mina. 

"Denis,  Denis,"  cried  Mina,  as  she  rushed  to  him, 
taking  both  his  hands  in  hers,  "Carl  will  come  back. 
He  isn't  dead.     I  know  it.     I'm  sure  of  it." 

"Glory  be  to  God,"  echoed  Denis,  "but  your  faith 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  153 

would  move  mountains,  and  that's  the  kind  of  faith 
that  will  bring  Carl  back." 

"You  do  believe  it,  Denis,  don't  you,  Denis?" 
Mina  insisted  with  intense  excitement. 

"I  do,  indade !"  exclaimed  Denis.  "I  was  born  in 
the  faith  and  I'll  live  in  it  and  I'll  die  in  it,  in  spite 
of  the  divil  and  his  myrmidons  and  the  whole  Spiel- 
garten.  It's  a  little  thing  for  the  faith  to  have  Carl 
turn  up  again." 

Never  before  had  Denis  stretched  his  faith  in  his 
own  heart  to  such  a  breaking  point,  and,  in  spite 
of  himself,  he  caught  something  of  Mina's  enthu- 
siasm. 

"But  I've  been  thinkin',"  and  Denis  began  strok- 
ing the  back  of  his  head,  as  was  his  wont,  when  about 
to  propound  something  that  seemed  of  moment,  "of 
a  bit  of  a  thrick  that  might  have  put  me  in  the  wool- 
sack if  I  was  in  the  ould  counthry  again.  Sure  an' 
it  might  shtop  things  a  bit  until  Carl  gets  back,"  and 
Denis  paused  a  moment  reflectively.  Clausen  re- 
garded him  intently,  for  he  knew  the  Irishman,  be- 
neath the  surface,  to  be  a  man  of  keen  intelligence 
In  spite  of  his  light-hearted  manner. 

"I've  been  thinkin',"  continued  Denis,  "that 
there's  a  way,  maybe,  to  bate  the  divil  around  the 
stump  afther  all.  An'  it  must  have  been  the  blissed 
St.  Pathrick,  for  I've  been  askin'  him,  since  Mina's 
trouble  began,  how  to  beat  Herr  Schmidt  at  ould 
Nick's  game,  to  give  me  a  little  light  in  this  wurruld 
of  darkness,   and  it's  this,  Herr  Clausen."     Here 


154  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

Denis  took  off  his  hat  and  stroked  the  back  of  his 
head  again. 

"You'll  remember,  Herr  Clausen,  the  fight  about 
the  family,  for  that  was  before  my  time  and  t'was 
yoursel'  told  me,  T'was  agreed,  yoursel'  said,  when 
they  decided  to  play  the  divil's  game  by  the  matin' 
system  and  to  do  away  with  God  Almighty's  plan 
of  having  little  children  with  a  rale  father  and 
mither,  that  ivery  family  in  the  Spielgarten  be  guar- 
anteed to  remain  a  family  under  the  ould  way  until 
it  should  die  out.  Sure,  your  family  was  one  of  the 
families  and  now  is  the  only  one  left.  An'  Mina 
here  bein'  your  child,  is  one  of  your  family,  and  by 
the  powers,  sure,  isn't  she  eximpt  from  the  law  of 
matin'.  For  It's  the  law  agin  the  law,  that  I'm 
pointin'  out  in  me  own  sweet  way.  For  whin  they 
made  the  law  of  matin'  they  made  the  exciption,  and 
the  exciption  proves  the  law,  and  now  wouldn't  that 
make  me  Lord  High  Chancellor,  if  I'd  but  argued 
the  case  In  the  ould  counthry!"  Denis  looked  at 
Clausen  Inquiringly,  and  then  went  on: 

"Maybe  there's  a  way,  Herr  Clausen.  Sure  you 
can  see  for  yoursel'.  You  can  petition  the  Particu- 
lar Council  that  undher  the  agreemint  whin  the 
matin'  system  was  made  the  law,  your  family  was 
made  eximpt,  and  that  manes  both  Mina  and  your- 
sel'. Even  if  they'd  not  admit  it,  it'd  save  time,  and 
time's  a  blessed  jewel  this  minute,  it  Is," 

As  Clausen  listened  to  Denis  his  face  began  to 
lighten  a  little.     The  Irishman's  contention  seemed 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  155 

to  have  some  point  to  It.  He  himself  could  plead 
the  right  of  exemption  and  why  should  it  not  be  ex- 
tended to  Mina,  who  was  a  member  of  his  family? 
At  least,  the  putting  in  of  the  petition  might  cause 
some  delay,  and,  for  a  time,  stave  off  the  fast-ap- 
proaching hour  that  threatened  Mina. 

"There  may  be  something  in  what  you  say,  Denis," 
said  Clausen.  "Yes,  surely,  both  Mina  and  I  are 
entitled  to  exemption  under  the  old  agreement.  I 
never  thought  of  it  before.  I  doubt  that  they  will 
allow  it;  the  chances  are  they  won't,  for  I  know  their 
temper,  and  Herr  Schmidt  himself  is  an  influential 
member  of  the  Council." 

"Thry  it  on,  anyhow,"  urged  Denis,  "an  agree- 
mint's  an  agreemint,  an'  they're  such  sthicklers  for 
the  law  in  the  Spielgarten  it'd  be  fine  sport  to  give 
them  a  dose  of  their  own  medicine.  An'  be  quick 
about  it.  There's  no  time  to  lose.  Draw  up  your 
petition  at  onct  and  put  it  in  before  the  sun's  beyont 
the  mountains  there." 

Clausen  needed  no  urging.  Denis'  suggestion 
seemed  at  least  a  way  to  possible  delay.  He  turned 
into  the  house  to  draw  up  the  petition. 

"Mina,  my  dear,"  said  Denis,  as  Clausen  disap- 
peared, "don't  worry  yoursel',  mavourneen.  I  prom- 
ise ye  by  the  blissed  St.  Pathrick  that  Schmidt  will 
never  lay  hands  on  ye.  Lave  it  to  Denis  McCarthy, 
as  sure  as  he's  an  Irishman  who  loves  the  ould  sod. 
It's  ould  Nick  himself  I'm  fightin',  an'  an  Irishman 
can  beat  the  divil  at  his  own  game  ivery  time." 


156  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

"Oh,  Denis,  you  are  kind  and  brave  and  strong," 
said  Mina,  with  gratitude  shining  in  her  eyes.  "Yes, 
I  know  you  will  do  everything  possible  for  me  and 
I  believe  that  God  is  good  and  that  Carl  is  not  dead 
and  will  come  back  yet," 

"Sure  he  will,  of  course  he  will,"  assented  Denis. 
"The  Lord  forgive  me,"  he  thought  to  himself,  "but 
it's  no  lie  I'm  tellin',  but  only  a  bit  of  a  prophecy  an' 
a  prophecy's  no  lie  until  it's  proved  not  thrue,  and 
that's  beyont  anybody's  knowin'  until  it  happens." 

"You  only  half  believe,  Denis,"  said  Mina,  "but 
I  know.  Something  tells  me  Carl  is  not  dead."  So 
assured  was  Mina's  tone  that  Denis  was  startled 
and,  in  spite  of  himself,  he  suffered  himself  to  be 
half  convinced.  He  was  an  Irishman,  and  believed 
that  there  were  other  things  in  life  than  logic  and  the 
visible  things  of  this  world. 

"I  wondher!"  he  said  to  himself. 

At  any  rate,  Mina's  belief  in  Carl's  safety  was  a 
supreme  comfort  to  her  in  her  trial,  and  Denis, 
though  his  reason  could  not  assent  to  her  insistence, 
allowed  his  heart  to  run  away  with  his  head  and, 
after  a  time,  began  to  half  believe  that  somehow 
Carl  had  escaped  the  river  and  the  cataract,  "Sure, 
it's  not  impossible,"  he  argued  with  himself,  "an' 
what's  not  impossible,  may  be,  after  all,"  Mina 
herself  never  for  an  instant  wavered  in  her  convic- 
tion. It  was  a  supreme  faith  with  her,  which  only 
grew  stronger  as  the  days  passed  by. 

Clausen,  the  next  day,  presented  his  petition  to 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  157 

the  Particular  Council,  claiming  exemption  for  Mina 
from  the  law  of  mating  on  the  ground  that  his  was 
one  of  the  original  families  to  which  exception  had 
been  granted  at  the  outset.  Herr  Schmidt  objected 
and  made  the  point  that  while  it  was  true  that  the 
original  families  were  exempted  from  the  workings 
of  the  law,  this  applied  only  to  those  members  of 
the  family  living  at  the  time  the  exception  was  al- 
lowed, but  that  Wilhelmina  Clausen  was  born  sub- 
sequent to  the  enactment  of  the  law  and  did  not, 
therefore,  come  under  its  provision.  As  the  policy 
of  the  construction  of  the  law  of  the  Spielgarten 
was  always  strictly  in  favor  of  its  letter  and  of 
strengthening  the  Socialist  ideal  of  collectivism  in 
all  its  logical  bearings,  the  decision  was  against  Clau- 
sen and  his  petition  was  denied. 

Denis  was  enraged  at  the  result,  for  he  had  come 
to  make  himself  believe  that  his  contention  would 
stand.  Clausen  was  disappointed,  though  his  hopes 
were  never  high  that  he  would  succeed;  he  knew  too 
well  the  temper  of  the  tribunal  before  which  he 
pleaded,  and  also  realized  that  his  own  family,  being 
the  sole  remnant  of  an  institution  hateful  to  the 
Socialist  system,  would  scarcely  find  its  judges  well- 
disposed. 

Mina  herself  seemed  indifferent,  save  in  so  far  as 
she  sympathized  with  her  father  and  Denis  and 
shared  their  disappointment.  So  sure  was  she  that 
Carl  would  return  and  all  come  out  right  in  the  end 
that  nothing  could  shake  her  confidence. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

It  was  the  morning  of  the  day  set  for  the  mating 
of  Mina.  Denis  came  early  to  Clausen's  house. 
The  Irishman's  face  was  grimly  set  and  his  shaggy 
brows  were  contracted  more  heavily  than  usual 
above  his  deep-set  grey  eyes.  Clausen  looked  hag- 
gard and  worn. 

"Mina,  girl,  never  ye  care.  Herr  Schmidt  shall 
never  lay  a  hand  on  ye." 

Clausen  looked  keenly  and  inquiringly  at  Denis. 

"Do  ye  go  through  the  cerimony,  darlint,  though 
it's  I  who  knows  ye'd  rather  die  than  say  the  hated 
w^ords — but  do  ye  be  brave  and  lave  it  to  me.  Go 
to  Schmidt's  house  as  if  ye  were  willin'  enough,  and 
then  .  .  ."  And  Denis'  eyes  blazed:  "I've  a  little 
plan  of  me  own.  You  sthay  home,  Herr  Clausen, 
and  wait  for  me." 

"What  do  you  intend  to  do?"  asked  Clausen. 

"I'll  tell  ye  that  afther  it's  done,"  was  Denis' 
response,  and  he  refused  obstinately  to  reveal  his 
plan,  notwithstanding  Clausen's  importunity. 

The  mating  was  to  take  place  that  evening,  just 
after  sunset,  as  was  the  custom  in  the  Spielgarten. 

158 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  159 

Denis  remained  during  most  of  the  morning  at  Clau- 
sen's house,  but  in  spite  of  Clausen's  entreaties,  as 
to  what  he  intended  to  do,  refused  to  disclose  his 
course  of  action.  He,  however,  inspired  Mina  with 
confidence  and  begged  her  not  to  falter  in  the  least 
during  the  ceremony  or  after  she  had  arrived  at 
Schmidt's  house,  but  to  rely  implicitly  upon  him. 

It  was  not  until  nearly  noon  that  Denis  departed. 
Mina  had  almost  become  cheerful  under  the  Irish- 
man's steady  stream  of  encouragement;  so  deter- 
mined and  confident  seemed  Denis  that  even  Clau- 
sen began  to  believe  that  perhaps  the  Irishman  had 
hit  upon  some  plan  of  staying  the  dreadful  event. 

Under  the  spell  of  Denis'  encouraging  exhorta- 
tions, Mina  induced  herself  to  take  some  rest  during 
the  afternoon  and  even  dozed  off  for  a  few  minutes 
and  awakened  somewhat  refreshed.  But  as  the 
hour  grew  near  Clausen  felt  his  spirits  sink. 

A  little  before  sunset  Mina  arrayed  herself  in  the 
red  robe  which  all  those  who  were  to  be  mated  were 
ordered  to  wear  for  that  brief  and  business-like  cere- 
mony. For  mating  in  the  Spielgarten  had  nothing 
of  sentiment  attached  to  it.  It  was  a  mere  official 
formula,  gone  through  with  just  as  any  other  offi- 
cial business,  for  those  who  participated  had  neither 
kith  nor  kin  and  the  relation  to  be  entered  into  was, 
under  the  system  prevailing  in  the  Spielgarten,  a 
strictly  official  relation.  There  were  no  fathers  or 
mothers,  sisters  or  brothers  to  be  present,  no  con- 
gratulations, no  gifts  nor  rejoicing.     Those  to  be 


i6o  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

mated  simply  assembled  In  the  great  official  build- 
ing in  Marxville  and  proceeded  to  pledge  themselves 
for  the  stipulated  period. 

At  the  time  designated  MIna  appeared,  arrayed  in 
the  regulation  red  robe.  She  found  about  fifty  other 
couples  assembled  for  the  same  purpose.  The  presi- 
dent of  the  Particular  Council  officiated.  The  only 
indication  of  anything  out  of  the  ordinary  were  the 
red  robes  of  the  participants  and  the  red  flag  float- 
ing above  the  building  in  which  the  mating  ceremony 
took  place.  The  building  Itself  was  a  two-story 
structure  of  yellow  brick,  square  In  shape,  with  great 
columns  supporting  a  heavy  architrave,  which  pro- 
jected from  the  facade.  This  was  the  only  attempt 
at  ornamentation  and  had  no  relation  whatsoever 
to  the  character  of  the  building  itself,  but  was  evi- 
dently intended  to  afford  some  relief  from  its  box- 
like appearance.  Indeed,  It  was  a  symbol  of  the 
civilization  of  the  Spielgarten,  without  ornamenta- 
tion or  variation,  and  lived  down  to  the  bare  bones 
of  a  monotonous  existence. 

Herr  Schmidt  was  there  with  his  Insufferable 
smile.  Mina  glanced  at  him  but  once,  and  then  shud- 
dered with  apprehension.  The  men  stood  on  one 
side  of  the  room,  and  the  women  on  the  other  In  a 
pre-arranged  order.  Mina  and  Schmidt's  turn  came 
almost  at  the  last.  It  was  only  with  the  utmost  ef- 
fort of  her  will  that  Mina  was  able  to  take  her  place 
with  Schmidt  in  front  of  the  President  of  the  Par- 
ticular Council,  and  when  she  and  Schmidt  clasped 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  i6i 

hands,  as  was  the  custom,  she  felt  her  knees  tremble. 
The  ceremony  was  of  the  simplest. 

"Do  you,  Man,  take  this  Woman  for  a  mate 

for  the  period  of  two  years,  for  the  purpose 

of  propagating  the  race  In  the  service  of  the 

Supreme  State?"  was  the  question  put  by  the 

official. 

The  same  question  was  put  to  the  women  with  the 
necessary  variation  of  sex.  The  answer  on  the  part 
of  the  principal  was  a  simple  "Yes,"  after  which 
each  couple  took  their  departure.  MIna  could  barely 
falter  the  repulsive  "yes"  which  she  was  constrained 
to  reply,  but  Schmidt's  "yes"  resounded  with  em- 
phasis through  the  entire  room. 

It  was  dark  when  MIna  and  Herr  Schmidt  left 
the  building,  for  In  the  tropics  night  swiftly  follows 
day  when  once  the  sun  has  gone  below  the  horizon. 
The  heavens  were  brilliant  with  stars.  Herr 
Schmidt,  looking  up,  smiled  significantly  at  MIna  and 
remarked,  "See,  Wilhelmlna,  how  bright  the  stars 
are  to  welcome  us,"  and  then  rubbing  his  hands  to- 
gether, "You  see,  it  Is  a  beautiful  beginning." 

MIna  made  no  reply,  but  walked  beside  him  with 
eyes  on  the  ground,  her  heart  beating  violently  and 
grasping  with  might  and  main  at  the  assurances 
which  Denis  had  poured  into  her  ears  that  morn- 
ing. 

Schmidt's  house  was  In  the  suburbs  of  Marxvllle, 
about  a  mile  distant  from  the  official  building.  Like 
all  the  other  houses  in  the  Splelgarten,  it  was  of  one 


1 62  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

story,  and  stood  back  from  the  street  fifty  feet,  with 
the  usual  garden  in  front.  Schmidt  opened  the  gate 
and  bade  Mina  enter.  Reaching  the  door  of  the 
house,  he  did  the  same  thing,  and  the  courage  which 
had  sustained  her  up  to  this  point  seemed  suddenly 
to  leave  her  as  she  went  in,  A  great  fear  seized 
her;  she  became  limp  and  weak.  Schmidt  grabbed 
her  roughly  and  dragged  her  in.  Mina  shrank  from 
his  grasp;  upon  which  he  caught  her  to  himself 
suddenly  in  a  fierce  embrace.  She  struggled  and 
thrust  her  hands  with  all  the  force  she  could  muster 
into  his  glowering  face,  now  contorted  with  pas- 
sion. 

At  the  same  moment  Schmidt  felt  a  heavy  hand 
grab  him  by  the  collar.  He  was  suddenly  torn  from 
Mina  and  hurled  staggering  against  a  desk  that  stood 
on  the  other  side  of  the  room.  Turning  with  an 
oath,  he  beheld  Denis  McCarthy  confronting  him 
with  squared  jaw  and  deep-set  eyes  aglow  with  a 
dangerous  fire.  For  a  moment  Schmidt  snarled 
inarticulately  at  the  Irishman;  then  he  sputtered 
through  his  clenched  teeth:  "What  are  you  doing 
here?     Get  out!  you  dirty  Irishman!" 

Denis  regarded  Schmidt  for  a  moment  without  re- 
plying, and  then  in  a  level,  tense  voice  said:  "Ye'll 
niver  accomplish  your  divil's  work,  Herr  Schmidt, 
as  long  as  Denis  McCarthy's  alive.  It's  twixt  me 
and  you  now,  for  good.  I've  been  waitin'  for  ye 
this  long  time  and  your  dirty  scheme  to  get  Mina 
Clausen  for  yourself  in  this  nasty  matin'  business. 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  163 

It's  the  last  thrick  ye'U  ever  play.  I  wouldn't  mur- 
ther  you,  skunk  though  you  are,  but  I'm  goin'  to  kill 
ye  in  a  clane,  dacent  fight.  I'm  goin'  to  teach  ye 
your  last  lesson,  an'  it's  a  fair  game,  for  I  have 
nothin'  but  me  two  arms,  and  twixt  you  and  me  we'll 
see  who's  the  betther  man." 

While  Denis  was  speaking  Schmidt  had  recovered 
himself  from  the  Irishman's  rough  handling  and 
stood  leaning  with  both  hands  on  the  desk,  his  eyes 
fixed  on  Denis'  face  with  a  sinister  gleam,  his  under- 
jaw  protruding  as  he  nervously  bit  his  upper  lip  with 
his  lower  teeth.  As  Denis  finished  his  words  Schmidt 
suddenly  threw  open  a  drawer  of  the  table  at  which 
he  stood  and,  snatching  a  revolver  from  it,  thrust 
it  pointblank  at  the  Irishman. 

Denis  stood  startled.  Where  had  Schmidt  got 
the  revolver,  was  the  first  thought  in  his  mind,  for 
no  weapons  were  made  in  the  Spielgarten,  and  it 
was  against  the  law  to  possess  one.  Herr  Schmidt's 
heavy  lips  drew  back  in  a  wolf-hke  smile,  as  he  wit- 
nessed the  Irishman's  surprise. 

"So,  you  damned  Irishman,  you  would  kill  me, 
would  you?  Well,  who  will  do  the  killing  now,  I 
want  to  know?  You  thought  I  wasn't  armed.  Well, 
I'll  tell  you  for  your  satisfaction,  for  you'll  never 
be  able  to  tell  anyone  else  afterwards,  that  I  came 
into  possession  of  this  revolver — well,  never  mind 
how.  That's  my  business,  after  all.  I'm  going  to 
kill  you,  you  dog!" 

While  Schmidt  was  talking,  Denis  had  advanced 


i64  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

two  full  paces  and  stood  looking  right  into  the  muz- 
zle of  the  ugly  weapon.  Scarcely  had  Schmidt 
spoken  the  words  when  Denis  suddenly  stooped  and 
threw  himself  with  all  his  force  against  the  desk, 
which  smashed  full  against  Schmidt's  body.  The 
revolver  went  off  with  Denis'  sudden  movement,  the 
bullet  just  grazing  the  top  of  the  Irishman's  head. 

In  an  instant  Denis  had  leaped  forward  and 
grabbed  Schmidt  by  the  wrist  of  the  hand  in  which 
the  revolver  was  held  and,  with  his  other  hand, 
gripped  Schmidt's  throat  Schmidt  was  a  strong 
man,  with  unusually  long  arms  and  broad  shoul- 
ders, though  of  no  great  height.  He  was  fashioned 
like  an  orang-outang,  a  formidable  physical  an- 
tagonist. But  Denis  had  been  hardened  by  his  out- 
door life  and  the  wielding  of  a  heavy  axe  for  many 
years,  besides  being  a  man  of  natural  athletic  build, 
agile  and  quick  in  movement.  Every  muscle  in  his 
body  had  grown  to  iron  in  the  past  ten  years  in  the 
Spielgarten,  but  Schmidt  was  animated  by  despera- 
tion. He  felt  that  he  was  fighting  for  his  life,  for 
the  Irishman  had  plainly  declared  his  intention  of 
killing  him,  and  he  knew  that  Denis  meant  what  he 
said. 

Schmidt,  with  his  free  arm,  struck  at  Denis'  face 
and  had  the  advantage  of  the  Irishman  from  his 
longer  reach  of  arm.  He  delivered  two  smashing 
blows  before  Denis  realized  Schmidt's  advantage. 
To  offset  this,  Denis  pressed  himself  as  close  to 
Schmidt's  body  as  possible,  to  shorten  the  blows,  at 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  165 

the  same  time  lowering  his  head  so  that  Schmidt 
could  not  strike  him  in  the  face.  Schmidt  struggled 
hard  to  wrench  his  right  wrist  from  the  Irishman's 
grasp  so  as  to  be  able  to  use  his  revolver  again.  But 
Denis'  hold  there  was  like  a  vise. 

Meantime  the  latter's  grip  upon  his  foe's  throat 
was  tightening.  Schmidt's  eyes  were  bulging  and 
the  veins  grew  distended  and  black  on  his  forehead. 
Denis,  gritting  his  teeth,  pressed  harder  and  harder 
and  at  length,  although  the  sweat  was  pouring  from 
his  own  forehead  with  the  exertion,  felt  his  antago- 
nist's body  relaxing. 

(The  revolver  dropped  out  of  Schmidt's  nerveless 
hand  to  the  floor.  Denis  promptly  transferred  his 
free  hand  to  Schmidt's  throat  and  put  on  additional 
pressure,  until  finally  the  man's  body  lay  prostrate 
and  limp  across  the  desk,  with  Denis  above,  glaring 
down  upon  his  now  unconscious  foe. 

Mina,  who  had  been  watching  the  struggle  in  fear 
and  trembling,  had  shrunk  back  to  the  farthest  cor- 
ner of  the  room.  The  report  of  the  revolver  had 
both  surprised  and  shocked  her,  as  she  had  never 
heard  the  explosion  of  a  weapon  before, — indeed, 
had  never  seen  one.  When  she  saw  Denis  over 
Schmidt's  body  fiercely  gripping  his  throat,  she  drew 
a  deep  breath  of  relief  and,  rushing  over,  stood  be- 
side the  Irishman,  and  asked  in  a  subdued  voice,  in 
which  there  was  still  fear  and  wonder,  if  Schmidt 
were  dead. 

"I   don't  know,"   answered  Denis,   relaxing  his 


1 66  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

grasp.  "Sure,  he  ought  to  be.  But  to  keep  on 
choking  him  seems  hke  cold  murther  and  that's  not 
to  me  likin'.  I  can  kill  a  man  in  a  fair  fight,  but  I 
don't  like  to  choke  him  to  death  afther  he  is  onct 
down  and  out."  Denis  stood  over  Schmidt,  gaz- 
ing with  intense  scrutiny  into  his  face.  To  all  ap- 
pearances the  breath  had  been  squeezed  out  of 
Schmidt's  body.  He  lay  inert,  with  horribly  gaping 
lips  and  bulging  eyes.  "Maybe  I'd  betther  make 
sure,"  said  Denis,  reaching  again  for  Schmidt's 
throat. 

"Oh,  no,  don't,  Denis,  don't!"  said  Mina,  as  she 
covered  her  face  with  her  hands  and  shuddered. 
"It's  too  much  like  murder  now." 

"It's  right  ye  are,  Mina  dear."  And  Denis  drew 
back  from  the  prostrate  form.  "But  we  cannot  lave 
him  this  way  if  he  should  be  alive.  We'll  have  to 
take  precaution  aginst  that.  Here,  sthrip  me  a  bit 
of  your  robe  off  and  I'll  gag  him  and  bind  him  so 
that  if  he  should  come  around  again  it's  little  mis- 
chief he'll  be  able  to  do." 

[Mina  tore  her  red  robe  into  strips,  with  which 
Denis  promptly  bound  the  hands  and  feet  of  Herr 
Schmidt  and  secured  his  mouth  with  a  gag. 

"Come,  Mina,"  said  Denis,  taking  her  by  the  arm 
and  leading  her  to  the  back  door.  "I'll  be  takin'  ye 
home  now." 

Apparently  no  one  had  been  aroused  by  the  shot 
from  Schmidt's  revolver.    Before  stepping  out  into 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  167 

the  field  back  of  the  house,  Denis  made  a  careful 
survey,  but  saw  no  one  moving  about. 

"We'll  be  goin'  now,"  he  whispered,  and  together 
they  started  across  the  fields  in  the  direction  of  Clau- 
sen's house. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

Meantime  Clausen  remained  at  home  in  an  agony 
of  suspense,  waiting  to  hear  from  Denis,  who  had 
promised  to  communicate  with  him  within  an  hour 
after  the  mating  ceremony.  He  paced  up  and  down 
the  little  pathway  of  the  garden  leading  from  the 
door  to  the  gate,  straining  his  eyes  through  the  dark- 
ness in  the  direction  of  Marxville.  What  had  hap- 
pened? What  had  Denis  done?  He  firmly  be- 
lieved in  his  own  mind  that  Denis  would  stop  at 
nothing,  and  was  convinced  that  Denis'  intention  was 
to  kill  Schmidt.  That  seemed  to  him  the  obvious 
conclusion  from  the  Irishman's  words,  although 
Denis  had  preserved  a  rigid  reticence  as  to  what  he 
would  do. 

It  was  a  full  half  hour  after  sunset,  which  had 
been  the  time  for  the  ceremony  of  mating,  when 
Clausen,  standing  at  the  gate  in  anxious  suspense, 
was  startled  to  hear  footsteps  behind  him  coming 
from  the  other  direction.  It  was  bright  starlight, 
for  the  moon  had  not  yet  risen,  and  the  outline  of  a 
figure  plodding  heavily  up  the  road  caught  his  eye 
some  hundred  feet  away.    The  person  approaching 

i68 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  169 

was  evidently  much  spent,  for  he  swayed  as  he 
walked  along.  Clausen  stood  waiting  and,  as  the 
man  approached,  he  heard  his  name  called,  "Clau- 
sen, Herr  Clausen,  is  it  you?"  Clausen's  heart 
seemed  to  leap  into  his  throat.  It  was  Carl's  voice  1 
He  stood  for  a  moment  stunned.  Meantime  the 
figure  had  come  up  to  him  and  staggered  into  his 
arms.  This  was  clearly  a  body  of  flesh  and  blood, 
and  indeed  Carl.  "My  God,  Is  It  you,  Carl?  We 
thought  you " 

"Yes,"  said  Carl,  "I  know.  You  supposed,  of 
course,  that  I  was  dead,  and  it  Is  only  by  the  luckiest 
chance  that  I  did  escape  death  from  the  cataract, 
but  I  will  tell  you  afterwards.  I  am  faint  now  and 
hungry.  I  have  good  news  for  you.  We  can  get 
out  of  the  Spielgarten.  But  give  me  something  to 
eat  and  drink.  I  will  tell  you  more  later.  Where 
IsMina?" 

"Come  inside  and  I  will  get  you  something,"  said 
Clausen,  putting  his  arm  around  Carl  and  helping 
him  up  the  path  to  the  house. 

"Where  is  Mina?"  Carl  reiterated  as  they  entered 
the  door. 

"Just  a  moment,"  answered  Clausen,  "rest  your- 
self and  let  me  get  you  something  to  drink  and  eat. 
Mina  will  be  here  presently."  And  Clausen  hurried 
out  Into  the  kitchen,  bringing  In  some  food  and  drink 
to  the  exhausted  man. 

Carl  drank  and  ate  ravenously.  To  his  repeated 
inquiry  about  Mina,  Clausen  put  him  off  by  answer- 


lyo  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

ing  that  she  had  just  gone  down  the  road  for  a  stroll 
with  Denis  and  would  be  back  within  a  short  time. 
"I'll  go  meet  them,"  declared  Carl  when  he  had 
finished  his  repast  and  stood  up  with  renewed  vigor 
in  his  limbs.  His  clothes  were  fairly  in  rags  and 
his  shoes  worn  to  the  soles  of  his  feet. 

"Wait  a  moment!"  exclaimed  Clausen.  "You  are 
a  perfect  scarecrow.  You  would  frighten  Mina  to 
death.  Come,  let  me  get  you  a  change  of  cloth- 
ing and  shoes  for  your  feet;  they  are  on  the 
ground." 

But  Carl  was  not  to  be  restrained  and,  in  his 
eagerness  to  see  Mina,  started  for  the  gate,  when 
Clausen  put  a  detaining  hand  on  his  shoulder.  "No, 
Carl,  don't  go.  I'll  tell  you,  but  you  must  contain 
yourself." 

"What's  that  you  say?"  and  Carl  turned  sharply 
around,  questioning  Clausen  with  a  feeling  of  pre- 
monition, for  there  was  a  warning  note  in  the  lat- 
ter's  tone. 

"I  do  expect  Mina  and  Denis  here  within  a  few 
minutes,  Carl,  and  I  have  not  told  you  all.  But  you 
must  hold  yourself  in,  because  I  believe  everything 
is  all  right;  so  let  me  tell  you  without  interruption, 
and  restrain  yourself,  my  dear  boy." 

"Yes,  yes!"  excitedly  ejaculated  Carl.  "What  is 
it,  what  has  happened?" 

"It  was  only  this  evening  just  after  sunset  that 
the  ceremony  of  mating  took  place,  and  Mina,"  and 
here   Clausen's   voice   broke   for   a   moment,   "was 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  171 

mated  to  Herr  Schmidt.  Hold  yourself,  Carl,  it's 
all  right — let  me  tell  you,"  as  Carl  grabbed  him 
fiercely  by  the  arm.  "Denis  had  a  plan  to  save  Mina 
from  Schmidt.  I  am  nov/  waiting  to  hear  from  him. 
He  told  me  he  would  let  me  know  within  an  hour, 
and  Denis  swore  that  Schmidt  should  never  lay  a 
hand  on  Mina.  You  and  I  can  do  nothing  more  than 
has  been  done.  Let  us  wait  here  now  in  patience. 
I  am  sure  that  Denis  has  accomplished  his  purpose, 
although  he  would  not  tell  me  what  it  was.  I  firmly 
believe  that  he  intended  to  kill  Schmidt  and  I  do  not 
doubt  that  he  has  done  it." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  gate,  Carl  de- 
termined to  hasten  away,  with  Clausen's  detaining 
hand  on  his  arm.  "Don't  go,"  urged  Clausen.  I 
am  sure  they  will  soon  come.  I  know  how  impatient 
you  are,  but  I  have  the  utmost  confidence  In  Denis, 
and  I  know  that  you  have  also." 

Carl  finally  yielded  reluctantly  to  Clausen's  per- 
suasion, though  he  was  all  impatience  to  seek  Mina. 
It  was  just  possible,  the  thought  occurred  to  him, 
that  Denis'  plan  had  failed.  He  struggled  with  his 
own  doubt,  but  restrained  himself  at  Clausen's  in- 
sistency. 

As  they  stood  waiting,  Carl,  In  a  fragmentary 
way,  narrated  to  Clausen  his  adventures  after  fall- 
ing Into  the  river  and  his  discovery  of  Lorlmer's 
body  and  diary  In  the  valley  the  other  side  of  the 
Splelgarten,  as  well  as  the  fact  of  the  garrison  sta- 
tioned at  the  mouth  of  the  river.     Clausen  was  as- 


172  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

tonished  to  hear  of  the  possibihty  of  escape,  though 
he  appreciated  the  many  difficulties  that  lay  before 
them  in  the  attempt.  The  immediate  necessity  of 
preparing,  though,  pressed  in  upon  them.  When 
Denis  and  Mina  should  put  in  their  appearance,  they 
must  make  haste.  _ 

"Carl,"  said  Clausen,  "as  soon  as  Mina  and  Denis 
come,  we  must  prepare  to  flee.  I  think  it  would  be 
wise  for  us  to  start  our  preparation  while  we  are 
waiting.  Let  us  go  inside.  We  shall  need  food, 
blankets,  and  other  things.  Let  us  save  time  and 
get  them  ready." 

Carl  needed  no  urging  and  the  two  men  entered 
the  house  and  began  to  make  preparations  forth- 
with. They  had  scarcely  started  when  they  heard 
the  approach  of  feet  outside  on  the  road  and  then 
t"he  click  of  the  gate.  "Carl,"  said  Clausen,  "go 
into  the  other  room  for  a  moment.  It  might  be  too 
great  a  shock  for  Mina,  for  her  to  meet  you  sud- 
denly like  this.  I'll  call  you."  And  he  pushed  Carl, 
who  went  with  reluctance,  into  the  adjoining  room. 
Scarcely  had  Carl  disappeared  when  the  door  opened 
and  Denis,  supporting  Mina,  entered. 

"Father!"  she  exclaimed,  as  Clausen  took  her  in 
his  arms.     Clausen  looked  at  Denis  inquiringly. 

"Well,  it's  done,"  said  Denis.  "At  least,  I  think 
so.  He's  either  dead,  or  it'll  be  some  time  before 
he's  alive  again."  And  then  Denis  narrated  to  Clau- 
sen what  had  occurred  at  Schmidt's  house.  Clausen 
listened  intently,  and  after  Denis  had  finished  said; 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  173 

"Well,  we've  got  to  get  out  of  this  now,  as  soon  as 
possible.  The  die  is  cast.  I  have  good  news  for 
you.     Carl  is  here." 

Mina,  who  had  been  sobbing  in  her  father's  arms 
as  Denis  told  his  story,  suddenly  looked  up  and  cried, 
"Carl?"  and  as  she  spoke  the  door  opened  and  Carl 
rushed  to  her  from  the  other  room.  It  was  a  joy- 
ful meeting.  Mina,  now  happy  in  Carl's  arms,  kept 
saying,  "I  knew  you  would  come  back!  I  knew  you 
W'ould  come  back,  Carl!" 

Denis  fairly  gasped  when  he  first  saw  Carl. 
"Sure,  an'  it's  a  miracle!"  he  exclaimed,  and  grabbed 
Carl's  hand  until  the  latter  winced  in  the  Irishman's 
powerful  grip.  "Glory  be  to  God!"  exclaimed 
Denis.  "But  Mina  was  right  after  all,  and  how  did 
it  happen?  I  thought  it  was  the  end  of  ye  when  ye 
wint  over  the  cliff  into  the  wathcr,  Carl." 

Carl  repeated  his  story  to  Denis  and  Mina  as 
briefly  as  he  could,  while  Clausen  was  making  prep- 
arations. "Come,"  said  Clausen  finally,  "we  haven't 
time  to  talk  much.  We  must  get  ready.  We  must 
get  away  to-night." 

All  immediately  set  to  work  to  gather  what  things 
they  might  need  for  their  adventure,  food,  blankets, 
clothing,  kitchen  utensils,  bundled  together  and  se- 
curely made  Into  three  packs.  These  were  distrib- 
uted among  Carl,  Clausen  and  Denis.  Mina  was  to 
carry  nothing. 

Clausen  provided  Carl  with  another  suit  of  cloth- 
ing and  shoes.     No  extra  clothinp;,  save  for  Mina, 


174  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

was  taken,  as  they  did  not  want  to  burden  them- 
selves. 

A  hearty  meal  was  eaten  before  they  set  out  and 
enough  food  for  three  days  was  provided.  There 
was  plentiful  fruit  in  the  valley,  Carl  informed  them, 
and  also  fish  in  the  stream  so  that  they  had  no  appre- 
hensions upon  that  score. 

It  was  now  about  ten  o'clock  and  Clausen  sug- 
gested that  Carl  and  Mina  set  out  ahead  of  himself 
and  Denis  to  meet  at  a  designated  spot.  There  were 
some  few  things  to  be  attended  to  before  leaving, 
which  he  and  Denis  could  readily  do  and  he  wanted 
Mina  to  start  ahead  so  that  she  might  take  the  jour- 
ney easily  and  not  be  pressed. 

Following  this  arrangement,  Carl  and  Mina  de- 
parted first,  having  agreed  with  Clausen  to  wait  for 
them  at  the  foot-bridge,  three  miles  beyond,  on  the 
road  which  passed  Clausen's  house.  Clausen  cau- 
tioned both  Carl  and  Mina  not  to  talk  within  the 
vicinity  of  any  house  on  the  road  and  In  the  event 
of  seeing  anybody  coming  along  the  road  to  step 
aside  and  conceal  themselves. 

It  was  a  bright  starlight  night  when  Carl  and 
Mina  set  out,  Carl  carrying  his  pack  over  his  shoul- 
der and  a  hatchet  in  his  hand.  There  were  but  three 
houses  on  the  road  between  them  and  the  foot- 
bridge, and  as  they  came  near  these  they  walked  on 
in  silence.     Fortunately,  they  met  nobody. 

Arriving  at  the  foot-bridge,  they  halted,  waiting 
for  Denis   and  Clausen.      Mina,  turning  to   Carl, 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  175 

placed  both  hands  on  his  shoulders,  and  looking  up 
with  a  wondrous  sweet  smile,  said:  "I  knew  that  you 
would  come  back,  Carl.  Something  told  me  that 
you  were  not  dead  and  that  you  would  come  to  save 
me.  It  seems  strange,  but  I  never  once  wavered  in 
my  belief.  How  dreadful  it  must  have  been !  How 
you  must  have  suffered!"  and  Carl  felt  more  than 
compensated  for  all  he  had  been  through,  in  her 
sweet  solicitude,  and  in  the  happiness  of  holding  her 
in  his  arms  again. 

"To  think  that  I  should  have  found  you  in  the 
Spielgarten,  Mina  !  I  was  looking  for  the  fulfilment 
of  a  vain  dream  and  found  only  what  has  proved  to 
be  a  horrible  nightmare.  But  I  have  found  you, 
which  more  than  compensates  for  everything.  Yes, 
I  know  now  that  true  happiness  does  not  consist  in 
seeking  the  good  of  aH  by  levelling  us  down  to  what 
Socialism  brings  us  to,  but  in  the  possession  of  that 
happiness  which  we  can  find  alone  in  each  other,  as 
individuals,  and  that  when  we  destroy  individuahty 
and  the  family,  we  have  torn  up  the  roots  of  human 
joy.  But,  my  dear,  this  is  philosophizing,  and  I 
have  you  and  I  do  not  want  to  philosophize  with 
you  in  my  arms."  And  Carl  pressed  Mina  closer 
to  his  side. 

"Oh,  my  dear,  my  dear,  how  glad  I  am  I"  mur- 
mured Mina,  and  as  they  stood  there,  they  looked 
up  at  the  stars  and  forgot  that  there  were  any  other 
people  in  the  world. 

Meantime  Clausen  and  Denis  were  busying  them- 


176  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

selves  with  their  final  preparations.  Clausen  went 
through  the  entire  house  looking  for  what  might  be 
worth  the  while  to  take  with  them.  Denis  busied 
himself  in  making  the  packs  as  compact  as  possible. 
He  and  Clausen  stood  together,  just  as  they  were 
about  to  open  the  door  for  the  departure  and  with 
a  common  instinct,  each  grasped  the  other  by  the 
hand. 

"Denis,"  said  Clausen,  "it  seems  to  be  coming 
true.  I  can  scarcely  believe  that  we  have  a  chance 
to  get  out  of  this.  It  always  seemed  so  hopeless  to 
me." 

"Begorra,"  said  Denis,  "I'd  as  soon  have  thought 
of  goin'  to  the  moon,  but  shure  it's  here  now,  and 
glory  to  God,  but  we'll  make  it  thrue.  I  don't 
know  much  about  the  other  ind  of  it,  for  Carl's  story 
was  too  hurried  to  size  up  the  situation  fully,  but 
from  what  I  undherstood,  I  do  believe  we've  got 
more  than  a  fightin'  chanct." 

"Come,"  said  Clausen,  and  the  two  strode  through 
the  door  down  to  the  gate  and  struck  out  along  the 
road,  towards  the  foot-bridge  where  Mina  and  Carl 
were  awaiting  them. 

As  they  emerged  onto  the  road  the  moon  just 
tipped  over  the  mountain  tops  to  the  east  and  its 
silvery  illumination  began  to  flood  the  valley. 

"I  don't  like  that,"  exclaimed  Clausen,  "in  an- 
other ten  minutes  it  wnll  almost  be  as  light  as  day 
with  that  moon." 

"Moon  or  no  moon,"  said  Denis,  "we're  in  for 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  177 

it  and  we'd  best  use  our  legs  fast  to  get  a  good  start 
in  case  we  should  be  pursued.  It  may  be  that  divil 
Schmidt  isn't  in  hell  afther  all,"  and  the  two  men 
hurried  their  pace  down  the  road. 

After  three-quarter's  of  an  hour  steady  walking, 
they  came  in  sight  of  Mina  and  Carl  standing  by  the 
foot-bridge.  When  they  came  up  Clausen  asked 
Carl:  "Which  way,  now?" 

"Over  the  bridge  and  then  across  the  country  right 
to  where  you  see  that  depression  in  the  mountain 
ridge  just  below  Mt.  Bebel.  Wait  a  moment," 
added  Carl  as  they  were  about  to  start  out,  and  he 
plunged  into  some  bushes  by  the  side  of  the  road, 
coming  out  in  a  m.ornent  with  a  rifle  and  a  revolver 
in  his  hand. 

"I  brought  these  in  case  we  might  need  them. 
They  are  a  rifle  and  revolver  I  found  beside  Lor- 
imer's  body.  Here,  Denis,  you  take  the  revolver, 
and  Clausen,  you  take  the  rifle  and  I  will  take  care 
of  Mina.  Both  weapons  are  in  order.  I  saw  to  that 
before  I  left  the  valley  on  the  other  side  of  the 
range." 

With  hearts  beating  and  with  their  hopes  high,  the 
four  fugitives  from  the  Spielgarten  started.  By  this 
time  the  moon  had  risen  clear  above  the  mountain 
tops  and  bathed  the  entire  valley  in  a  wonderful 
brilliancy.  As  they  wended  their  way  across  the 
fields,  they  were  easily  visible  for  a  full  quarter  of 
a  mile  and  there  was  no  sheltering  forest  for  a  full 
two  miles  in  the  direction  in  which  they  were  going. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

The  house  next  to  that  of  Schmidt,  some  hundred 
feet  distant,  was  occupied  by  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Wilhelm.  When  Schmidt  fired  at  Denis,  Wilhelm 
heard  the  shot,  but  the  sound  came  muffled  to  him, 
nor  did  he  apprehend  what  it  meant,  for  he  was  a 
native  of  the  Spielgarten,  and  knew  nothing  of  fire- 
arms. The  sound,  however,  seemed  extraordinary 
to  him  and  aroused  his  curiosity.  What  could  it 
mean? 

He  went  to  his  door  and  looked  about,  but  saw 
nothing.  Schmidt's  house  was  quiet  and  no  one 
was  stirring  in  the  vicinity.  Wilhelm  went  in  again 
and  resumed  the  reading  of  The  Spielgarten  Clar- 
ion, the  one  periodical  published  there.  The  Clarion 
had  little  news,  for  there  was  little  news  to  give  in 
such  a  community,  and,  for  the  most  part,  contained 
dissertations  upon  the  beauty  and  the  happiness  of 
the  Socialist  State. 

But  Wilhelm  read  distractedly.  He  could  not  get 
out  of  his  mind  the  curious  report  he  had  heard. 
Twice  he  went  outside  to  look.  The  second  time 
ne  walked  in  the  direction  of  Schmidt's  house  and 

178 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  179 

knocked  at  the  door,  but  received  no  answer,  though 
the  light  was  burning.  Going  around  to  the  back, 
he   discovered   the   rear  door   standing  wide   open. 

Standing  on  the  threshold,  he  called  aloud,  but 
received  no  answer.  Entering,  he  groped  his  way 
through  the  kitchen,  for  there  was  no  light  there, 
into  the  dining-room  just  beyond,  through  the  partly 
open  door  of  which  he  could  see  that  there  was  a 
light  in  the  room  beyond.  Again  he  called,  but  again 
received  no  answer.  Opening  the  door,  he  cautiously 
peered  in.  There  was  no  one  visible.  "Herr 
Schmidt!"  he  called  in  rather  a  subdued  voice,  for 
the  silence  somehow  oppressed  him.  Walking  across 
the  room,  he  cam^e  upon  the  figure  of  a  man  lying  in 
the  farther  corner,  bound  hand  and  foot  with  strips 
of  red  cloth  and  a  piece  of  the  same  material  over 
his  mouth  by  way  of  a  gag. 

It  was  Herr  Schmidt !  Hastily  releasing  the  gag 
and  undoing  the  red  strips  from  Schmidt's  hands  and 
feet,  Wilhelm  sought  to  restore  the  unconscious  man, 
who  was  breathing  laboredly.  Wilhelm  hurried  back 
to  the  kitchen  and,  bringing  water,  dashed  it  in 
Schmidt's  face,  who  responded  by  gasping.  He 
looked  up  at  Wilhelm  with  filmy  eyes  and  endeav- 
ored to  say  something,  but  so  indistinctly  that  Wil- 
helm could  not  understand  him. 

"What  is  it,  Herr  Schmidt?  What  has  hap- 
pened?" asked  Wilhelm.  But  Schmidt  could  only 
groan  and  was  still  laboring  for  breath.  Wilhelm 
placed  a  glass  of  water  to  his  lips  and  made  him  sip 


i8o  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

It.  At  first  Schmidt  could  not  swallow  at  all,  but 
after  a  while  he  managed  to  take  a  little.  Meantime 
Wilhelm  had  dragged  him  up  into  a  chair  and  began 
chafing  his  hands  vigorously.  At  last  Schmidt  was 
able  to  articulate. 

"McCarthy,"  he  managed  to  say,  though  his  ut- 
terance was  very  thick.  Wilhelm  looked  puzzled. 
"McCarthy,"  reiterated  Schmidt,  holding  out  his 
MTists  and  putting  them  together  to  indicate  what 
he  wanted  to  tell. 

"McCarthy  did  It?  Is  that  what  you  want  to 
say?"  asked  Wilhelm,  and  Schmidt  nodded  his  head 
painfully. 

"He  tried — to — kill  me,"  came  slowly  from  the 
lips  of  Schmidt. 

"Why?"  asked  Wilhelm  in  wonderment. 

"Wilhelmina  Clausen,  he  abducted  her,"  painfully 
ejaculated  Schmidt,  who  by  this  time  had  recovered 
his  faculties,  although  he  was  much  shaken  and 
trembled  violently. 

All  this  was  mystifying  to  Wilhelm.  He  knew, 
of  course,  that  Schmidt  and  Wilhelmina  had  been 
mated  that  afternoon.  That  was  a  matter  of  no 
special  concern  to  him,  or,  indeed,  to  anybody  else 
m  the  Spielgarten,  and  he  could  In  no  way  associate 
Denis  with  the  affair. 

"Don't  you  understand?"  cried  Schmidt,  who  by 
now  was  strong  enough  to  vent  his  rage.  "You 
fool,"  hoarsely  shouted  Schmidt,  rising  from  his 
chair,  but  clinging  to  Its  arm,  for  he  was  still  weak. 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 


I8I 


*'You  fool,  he  tried  to  murder  rae  and  has  taken 
Wilhelmina  Clausen  from  me  by  violence.  Don't 
stand  there  blinking  like  an  idiot,  but  get  some- 
body! We  must  pursue  them  wherever  they  have 
gone!"  and  he  sank  back  into  his  chair,  exhausted 
after  his  outburst. 

Wilhelm,  still  perplexed,  hurriedly  left  the  house 
and  ran  across  the  street  to  a  neighbor  for  assist- 
ance. He  pounded  at  the  door,  shouting,  "Herr 
Schmidt  has  been  murdered!  Come  quick!"  The 
clamor  made  by  Wilhelm  roused  several  people  in 
the  neighborhood  and  soon  some  half  dozen  had 
gathered  at  Schmidt's  house.  Schmidt  explained 
what  had  occurred. 

This  was  a  most  astounding  event  in  the  Spiel- 
garten,  the  even  tenor  of  whose  life  was  rarely 
broken  by  any  event  beyond  a  natural  death.  Mur- 
der or  attempted  murder  was  unknown.  The  placid- 
ity of  life  was  rarely  disturbed  even  by  so  much  as  a 
quarrel.  Schmidt's  hearers  were  astonished  and 
horrified. 

"Don't  stand  there  like  blithering  idiots,"  shouted 
Schmidt,  now  thoroughly  himself  again,  "but  bestir 
yourselves  and  get  ready  to  pursue  the  scoundrel 
with  me !  Arm  yourselves  with  anything  you  can 
find,  and  we  will  start  immediately." 

The  only  weapons  used  in  the  Spielgarten  were 
clubs,  and  these  were  carried  only  by  the  police,  a 
small  body  of  twenty-five,  of  whom  only  ten  were 
constantly  on  duty.     The  other  fifteen  were  practic- 


1 82  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

ally  reserves  to  be  called  upon  In  an  emergency.  In 
the  last  twenty-five  years  no  such  occasion  had  arisen 
in  the  history  of  the  Spielgarten. 

Schmidt  hastily  summoned  whoever  of  these  re- 
serves might  be  within  easy  call,  of  whom  some  six 
responded,  and  these,  in  addition  to  the  neighbors 
who  had  gathered  to  Schmidt's  assistance,  made  a 
body  of  fifteen  men  altogether. 

Leaving  Schmidt's  house  they  immediately  started, 
under  his  direction,  for  Clausen's.  They  were  all 
armed  with  clubs  save  Schmidt,  who  had  picked  up 
his  revolver  from  the  floor.  The  revolver  he  put  in 
his  pocket.  None  of  his  companions  had  noticed 
it — not  even  Wilhelm,  who  had  found  him  uncon- 
scious. 

When  they  arrived  at  Clausen's  house  Schmidt 
went  to  the  front  door  and  knocked  upon  it  vigor- 
ously. The  house  was  dark  and  there  was  no  re- 
sponse. Schmidt  took  a  club  from  one  of  his  fol- 
lowers and  beat  upon  It  with  a  half  dozen  resounding 
blows.  Still  there  was  no  response.  Without  more 
ado  he  then  threw  it  wide  open,  calling  the  others, 
and  marched  In,  shouting  loudly  for  Herr  Clausen. 

On  turning  up  the  lights  they  found  evidences  of 
disorder.  On  the  floor  were  pieces  of  rope,  a  blan- 
ket, a  knife  and  several  cooking  utensils. 

A  perfunctory  search  was  made,  but  nobody  was 
found.  It  was  very  evident  that  the  Inmates  had 
fled,  and  Schmidt  had  no  doubt  In  his  mind  that  the 
whole  scheme  had  be#n  premeditated ;  but  he  smiled 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  183 

as  he  thought  that  their  flight  could  not  be  far.  The 
Spielgarten  was  a  very  limited  area  and  it  would  not 
take  long  to  capture  the  fugitives. 

A  brief  consultation  was  held  as  to  what  possible 
course  the  fugitives  could  have  taken.  It  was  de- 
cided to  divide  the  party  into  two  bands,  one  to  go 
northward  and  the  other  southward.  One  man  was 
sent  back  to  Marxville  to  gather  a  searching  party 
to  see  if  the  fugitives  could  possibly  be  hiding  some- 
where within  its  limits,  though  that  seemed  most 
unlikely  to  Schmidt.  The  fact  of  a  flight  at  all  was 
most  astounding.  It  was  impossible  to  escape  ulti- 
mately, and  it  would  be  only  a  matter  of  two  or  three 
days  before  the  rebels  (for  rebels  they  were  in 
Schmidt's  mind)  were  captured. 

At  the  moment  he  was  full  of  wrath  at  being 
thwarted  by  Denis  just  when  his  prey  was  within  his 
reach.  One  party,  with  Herr  Schmidt  leading,  took 
the  road  to  the  north.  A  keen  lookout  was  kept  on 
either  side,  which  was  bordered  by  open  fields.  In 
the  bright  moonlight,  anyone  would  be  easily  vis- 
ible. When  they  arrived  at  the  footbridge,  over 
which  Clausen,  Mina,  Denis  and  Carl  had  crossed, 
the  pursuers  halted.  It  was  a  question  in  Schmidt's 
mind  whether  Clausen  and  the  others  had  crossed 
here  or  whether  they  had  continued  straight  ahead 
on  the  open  road. 

He  stood  hesitating,  when  one  of  his  companions 
suggested  that  he  thought  it  v/as  likely  that  the  fugi- 
tives would  abandon  the  road  and  seek  concealment 


^i84  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

in  the  woods.  Schmidt  accepted  the  suggestion  and 
started  across  the  foot-bridge,  with  the  others  fol- 
lowing him.  Reaching  the  further  side,  he  started 
Into  a  steady  trot,  going  directly  east.  He  soon  out- 
distanced his  followers,  who  were  not  perhaps  as 
keen  as  he. 

After  ten  minutes,  on  coming  to  the  top  of  an  ele- 
vation, he  thought  he  saw,  some  distance  ahead,  hu- 
man figures.  Although  he  was  pretty  well  spent  by 
running,  he  quickened  his  pace,  and  after  proceed- 
ing some  two  hundred  yards  further,  s-aw  quite  dis- 
tinctly four  figures  going  toward  the  forest,  not  more 
than  half  a  mile  distant.  The  four  figures  puzzled 
him.  Turning  back  and  holding  his  hands  to  his 
mouth,  he  shouted  to  his  followers,  "Hurry  up !" 
and  then  started  again  In  pursuit. 

The  wind  was  blowing  towards  Clausen  and  the 
others  with  him,  and  the  sound  of  Schmidt's  voice 
carried  to  them.  It  was  the  first  Inkling  they  had 
that  they  were  being  pursued.  All  four  turned  ab- 
ruptly and  halted  for  a  moment,  looking  anxiously 
in  the  direction  of  the  voice.  Denis  was  the  first  to 
discover  the  figure  approaching,  though,  of  course, 
he  could  not  distinguish  who  it  was. 

This  much  at  least  seemed  evident,  that  the  man 
was  pursuing  them,  and  It  was  only  a  few  moments 
when  the  figures  of  several  more  men  became  visible 
over  the  rise  of  ground  back  of  the  first  figure,  all 
hurrying  forward.  Hitherto  Clausen  and  his  party 
had  pursued  their  way  without  haste,  but  now  there 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  185 

was  need  of  speed  with  their  pursuers  close  upon 
them.  Denis  and  Carl  caught  Mina  by  either  arm 
to  help  her.  The  burden  of  their  packs  and  the  need 
of  helping  Mina  retarded  them  considerably.  Their 
pursuers  were  clearly  gaining  upon  them.  What 
they  hoped  was  to  find  the  shelter  of  the  woods  be- 
fore those  behind  them  would  be  able  to  come  up. 

"Could  that  divil  have  come  back  to  life?"  was 
Denis'  thought,  for,  frankly,  he  was  surprised  at 
this  early  pursuit.  He  supposed  Schmidt  dead  and 
counted  upon  the  discovery  of  Schmidt's  body  not 
before  the  next  day  at  the  earliest. 

Schmidt  was  not  more  than  two  hundred  yards 
behind  them,  shouting  at  them  to  stop. 

"Stop,  or  I  fire!"  he  cried. 

Then  for  the  first  time  Denis  remembered 
Schmidt's  revolver.  Why  had  he  forgotten  to  se- 
cure it  when  Schmidt  lay  unconscious?  Denis  swore 
under  his  breath  at  himself  for  being  such  a  forget- 
ful fool. 

"Stop,  or  I  shoot!"  cried  Schmidt  again. 

Clausen  and  Carl  were  astounded  to  hear 
Schmidt's  words. 

"He  has  a  revolver!"  said  Deni«.  "I  forgot 
to  tell  ye.  He  fired  at  me  in  the  house.  Bad 
cess  to  me,  but  I  forgot  to  bring  the  revolver  with 
me!" 

Just  at  this  moment  Schmidt  fired,  but  his  shot 
went  wild.  Clausen  and  the  others  faced  about  im- 
mediately.    Meantime  Schmidt  was  still  coming  on 


1 86  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

and  was  now  not  more  than  a  hundred  yards  dis- 
tant. 

"Shoot  him!"  yelled  Denis,  and  accompanying  his 
words  with  the  action  Denis  fired  at  the  advancing 
man,  but  without  effect.  Schmidt  paid  no  heed  to  the 
shot,  but  kept  on  with  his  own  revolver  pointing  at 
them.  Clausen  leveled  the  rifle  at  him  and  ordered 
him  to  stop;  but  again  Schmidt  paid  no  heed. 

"Shoot!"  cried  Denis.  "Don't  wait  any  longer!" 
Clausen  lifted  the  rifle  and  fired  deliberately,  and 
Schmidt,  throwing  up  his  hands,  fell,  a  crumpled 
heap  upon  the  ground.  Denis  rushed  over  to  him 
and  took  the  revolver  from  his  lifeless  grasp.  He 
was  evidently  dead 

Meantime  the  remaining  pursuers  had  stopped  in 
consternation  a  hundred  yards  from  where  Schmidt 
had  fallen,  where  Denis,  now  with  two  revolvers, 
one  in  either  hand,  stood  facing  them. 

"Go  back!"  shouted  Denis,  "or  we  will  serve  ye 
as  we  have  this  blackguard  here." 

The  Spielgarten  people  stood  in  consternation. 
Very  few,  if  any  of  them,  had  ever  heard  the  dis- 
charge of  firearms. 

"Go  back,  I  say!"  shouted  Denis  a  second  time, 
"or  I'll  fire  again.  You'll  never  take  us  alive,  and 
most  of  ye  will  be  dead  men  before  you  do  it!" 

There  seemed  to  be  little  disposition  on  the  part 
of  the  pursuing  party  to  advance.  They  were  com- 
pletely intimidated.  One  of  them  cried  out  to 
Denis :  "You  had  better  come  back.    You  cannot  get 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  187 

away  in  the  long  run.  You  have  violated  the  law 
and  you  have  committed  murder." 

"Glory  be  to  God,  but  ye're  thickheads!"  an- 
swered Denis.  "It's  the  divil's  law,  and  I'm  thinkin' 
it's  a  dacent  deed  we've  done.  And,  as  for  murther, 
this  blackguard  here  tried  to  kill  me  beyont,  not  two 
hours  ago,  and  he  was  thryin'  to  kill  us  just  now! 
Go  back,  and  let  us  alone.  We'll  take  care  of  our- 
sel's.  An'  what  we  intend  to  do  is  none  of  your 
dirty  business."  And  Denis  withdrew  backwards 
towards  Clausen  and  the  others,  still  facing  the  Spiel- 
garteners  with  his  two  revolvers  threateningly 
pointed  at  them. 

"Go  on,"  said  Denis  when  he  reached  his  party. 
"I'll  be  rear  guard  as  ye  go  on." 

With  that,  Clausen,  with  Carl  and  Mina,  turned 
and  continued  onward  toward  the  woods,  which  were 
now  not  more  than  four  hundred  yards  away.  Denis, 
meanwhile,  walking  behind  them  a  short  distance 
and  every  now  and  then  turning  with  pointed  revol- 
vers toward  the  silent  group  of  Spielgarteners,  who 
did  not  venture  to  advance  further. 

When  they  reached  the  fringe  of  the  woods  the 
fugitives  stopped  and  stood  looking  at  the  Spiel- 
garteners, who  were  now  evidently  discussing  what 
to  do.  In  a  few  moments  one  of  them  advanced  to 
where  Schmidt  lay  and,  stooping  down,  examined  the 
body.  He  called  the  others,  who  in  turn  came  for- 
ward and  gazed  down,  awestricken,  upon  the  lifeless 
man.      Such   swift   and   sudden   death   was   new  to 


i88  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

them.  Violence  was  a  rare  thing  in  the  Splelgarten. 
In  all  its  history  there  had  been  but  two  murders  com- 
mitted and  these  were  during  the  first  ten  years  of  its 
existence.  To  see  one  of  their  fellows  struck  down 
instantaneously  by  a  weapon  known  to  them  only 
by  hearsay  and  so  completely  disastrous  in  its  effect 
not  only  surprised  but  shocked  them  beyond  com- 
prehension. After  some  little  parley  they  picked  up 
Schmidt's  body  and  turned  back  in  the  direction  of 
Marxville. 

It  was  with  intense  relief  that  the  fugitives  saw  the 
Splelgarteners  retreating.  They  had  been  fearful 
lest  they  would  be  compelled  to  resort  to  further  vio- 
lence in  beating  their  attackers  off  and  were  thank- 
ful that  this  necessity  no  longer  obtained.  To  have 
had  to  kill  Schmidt  was  sufficient  blood  on  their 
hands,  and  Clausen  was  somewhat  shaken  with  the 
experience,  although  he  felt  that  he  was,  after  all, 
acting  only  In  self-defense.  MIna  was  trembling 
from  head  to  foot  and  clung  desperately  to  Carl, 
who  was  doing  his  best  to  soothe  her  and  allay  her 
fright.  Denis  asserted  that  Schmidt  had  got  his 
proper  deserts  and  only  regretted  that  he  had  not 
killed  him  In  the  first  encounter. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

The  fugitives  remained  in  the  shadow  of  the 
woods,  watching  the  Spielgarteners  as  they  disap- 
peared over  the  crest  of  an  elevation  in  the  direction 
of  Marxville.  The  question  in  their  minds  was 
whether  the  Spielgarteners  would  return  later  on. 
Clausen  was  of  the  opinion  that  they  would  not,  as 
the  people  in  the  Spielgarten  were  not  accustomed 
to  think  or  move  rapidly  in  emergencies.  In  fact, 
emergencies  were  rare  in  the  Spielgarten,  and  an  en- 
tirely new  situation  had  developed. 

Moreover,  the  knowledge  that  there  was  no 
egress  from  the  Spielgarten  would  make  the  authori- 
ties feel  secure  in  their  belief  that  they  could  easily 
apprehend  the  little  party  of  rebels  at  their  own 
convenience.  Schmidt,  through  whom  all  the  evil 
had  come  about,  was  dead.  If  he  were  alive,  there 
might  be  fear  of  attack  again  that  night,  as  his  per- 
sonal interest  and  his  vindictiveness  would  have 
urged  him  on  without  rest. 

"At  any  rate,"  said  Carl,  "we  ought  to  move  far- 
ther on.  If  they  pursue  us,  even  if  they  wait  until 
to-morrow,  they  will  come  directly  to  this  spot.    We 

189 


I90  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

should  be  part  way  up  the  mountain  when  they  ar- 
rive. I  know  the  way.  We  can  reach  the  nearest 
hilltop  in  another  hour." 

"Ye're  right,  Carl,"  added  Denis.  "We  don't 
want  to  be  caught  here  in  broad  daylight.  How  is  it 
with  you,  Mina?  Can  you  go  on  for  another  hour?" 
for  Mina  was  very  pale  and  showed  traces  of  fa- 
tigue. 

"By  all  means,  let  us  go,"  said  Mina  bravely.  "I 
am  not  tired.  See,  I'm  ready!"  and  she  took  Carl's 
arm  to  indicate  her  willingness. 

"It  will  be  easier,"  said  Carl,  "to  skirt  the  edge 
of  the  woods.  The  way  is  a  little  roundabout,  but 
we  will,  in  the  end,  save  time." 

The  party  started  out,  keeping  to  the  open  on  the 
left-hand  side,  Carl  in  front  with  Mina  to  lead  the 
way  and  to  set  the  pace,  according  to  her  ability. 
Under  these  circumstances  their  going  was  slow,  but 
as  they  felt  no  present  urgency,  they  could  afford  to 
take  it  quietly.  After  a  half  hour  they  came  to  the 
lower  slope  of  the  elevation,  which  they  intended  to 
ascend. 

"Let  us  rest  for  a  moment,"  suggeisted  Carl. 
"Mina  is  very  tired."  After  ten  minutes'  wait  they 
began  the  ascent.  It  was  slow  and  tedious  work,  as 
they  had  to  pick  their  way  through  underbrush  and 
a  heavy  growth  of  trees,  which  almost  completely 
shut  out  the  light  of  the  moon,  brilliant  as  it  was. 
Carl  and  Denis  between  them  almost  carried  Mina, 
for,  by  this  time,  she  was  practically  exhausted. 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  191 

It  took  them  a  good  hour,  after  many  pauses,  to 
reach  the  summit  of  the  elevation.  Here  they  de- 
termined to  rest  for  the  night.  It  was  agreed  that 
each  of  the  men  should  keep  watch  in  turn.  Denis 
volunteered  to  take  the  first  watch  for  two  hours, 
when  he  would  arouse  Clausen  for  the  second.  Carl 
would  take  the  final  watch.  Without  more  ado  they 
wrapped  themselves  in  their  blankets,  all  except 
Denis,  and,  in  spite  of  the  excitement  and  toil  of  the 
day,  were  soon  slumbering  heavily. 

Carl,  who  kept  the  last  watch,  refrained  from 
waking  them  when  the  sun  arose,  as  he  felt  that 
Mina  needed  the  sleep.  So  he  waited  a  good  hour 
before  he  disturbed  their  slumbers.  Mina  arose 
much  refreshed  and  quite  dazed  at  first  with  her 
novel  situation.  Denis  stretched  himself  vigorously 
and  took  in  a  deep  breath  with  great  satisfaction. 

"It's  the  first  time  I  wakened  up,  a  freeman,  in 
this  tin  years,"  said  the  Irishman.  "Whether  we 
get  out  or  not,  I'm  done  with  the  Spielgarten!  I'd 
rather  be  free  and  dead  than  be  alive  and  a  slave 
again!  I'm  me  own  master  now,  and  it's  a  blissed 
thing  to  feel  this  way  again." 

Clausen  could  not  help  smiling  at  the  Irishman's 
way  of  putting  it,  but  he,  too,  felt  a  new  sense  of 
life,  upon  waking  into  a  world  where  the  yoke  of 
Socialism  no  longer  burdened  his  heart  and  soul. 

Carl,  by  this  time,  had  started  a  fire,  over  which 
they  cooked  their  breakfast.  In  the  meantime  Denis 
cHmbed  a  tree  for  the  purpose  of  getting  a  view  of 


192  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

the  clearing  beyond  the  line  of  the  forest.  From  this 
vantage  point  he  could  see  all  the  way  to  Marxville. 
He  scanned  the  scene  with  eager  eyes  and  breathed 
a  sigh  of  relief  at  seeing  no  evidence  of  any  one  ap- 
proaching through  the  open  fields.  Having  satis- 
fied himself,  he  descended  and  reported  to  the  others 
that  there  was  no  sign  of  a  pursuit. 

Clausen  again  declared  his  belief  that  the  people 
in  the  Spielgarten  would  be  slow  to  follow  them. 
Carl,  however,  thought  otherwise,  but  Denis  agreed 
with  Clausen.  They  had  been  in  the  Spielgarten  for 
a  number  of  years  and  knew  the  character  of  the 
people  thoroughly.  Nobody  knew  of  their  intention 
to  attempt  escape  from  the  island,  and,  of  course, 
no  one  knew  that  Carl  had  returned. 

Before  leaving,  Denis  again  climbed  a  tree  to  see 
whether  anybody  was  pursuing  them,  but,  as  be- 
fore, nobody  was  visible.  After  breakfast  they  gath- 
ered all  their  effects  together  and  started,  under 
Carl's  guidance.  They  descended  from  the  elevation 
where  they  had  spent  the  night,  and  after  a  half 
hour's  steady  tramp,  struck  the  bottom  of  the  valley 
of  the  first  range.  The  ascent  here  was  a  long  and 
fatiguing  climb,  especially  to  Mina.  They  had  to 
make  frequent  halts  out  of  regard  for  her,  although 
she  constantly  insisted  that  they  go  on,  but  Carl,  who 
alone  realized  the  difl'iculty  of  the  way  and  the  hard 
task  that  yet  lay  before  them,  urged  upon  her  the 
necessity  of  sparing  herself.  Clausen  and  Denis 
added  their  solicitations  to  his. 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  193 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  when  they  reached  the 
summit  of  the  first  range.  They  had  to  pick  their 
way,  at  times  making  laborious  detours.  Not  only 
Mina,  but  Clausen  himself  was  showing  signs  of  dis- 
tress, for  the  latter,  though  still  hearty,  was  well  over 
sixty  and  quite  unused  to  mountain  climbing,  to 
which  Carl  and  Denis,  as  lumbermen,  had  become 
enured.  Mina  had  borne  up  bravely,  but  was  now 
completely  worn  out. 

It  was,  therefore,  determined  to  pitch  camp  for 
the  night,  although  full  two  hours  of  daylight  still 
remained.  From  where  they  were  the  entire  valley 
of  the  Spielgarten  lay  visible  to  them.  The  silver 
thread  of  the  river  wound  in  and  out  through  the 
variegated  fields,  which  looked  like  an  immense 
checker  board  below.  Marxville  seemed  rather  in- 
significant, with  its  low  buildings  grouped  Irregu- 
larly on  the  farther  bank  of  the  river. 

It  was  a  strange  and  rare  sight  to  Mina,  who  had 
never  before  stood  on  such  an  elevation.  She  was 
filled  with  astonishment  and  admiration.  The  peace- 
ful and  slumbering  valley,  the  profound  silence 
around,  the  immense  prospect  filled  her  with  awe  as 
she  stood  gazing  down  upon  the  scene  which  had 
always  been  her  world.  How  different  It  now 
seemed! 

"It  is  wonderful  and  beautiful,  isn't  it,  Mina, 
dear?"     Carl's  voice  broke  In  upon  her. 

"How  you  startled  me,  Carl !"  exclaimed  Mina,  as 
she  confidingly  took  Carl's  hand.     "It  all  seems  so 


194  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

strange.  All  these  years  I  have  lived  down  there, 
never  dreaming  it  would  be  otherwise.  And  it  is 
already  beginning  to  seem  so  far  away — like  another 
life  entirely." 

"It  is  the  beginning  of  another,  a  new  life,  a 
greater  life  outside  of  the  prison  from  which  we 
are  now  escaping.  It  is  even  stranger  to  me  than 
to  you.  All  my  life  I  had  dreamed  of  the  Socialist 
State  as  man's  ideal  condition,  and  to  have  found 
what  I  found  there,  what  a  terrible  awakening  I  It 
has  been  a  hard  wrench  for  me  to  discover  that  my 
idol  was,  after  all,  of  grossest  clay.  But  I  thank 
God  that  my  eyes  are  now  open,  and  it  was  worth 
all  to  have  found  you." 

"I  am  glad,  Carl,"  said  Mina,  looking  up,  with  all 
the  confidence  of  youth  and  love,  into  his  eyes.  "I 
think  it  is  a  great  blessing  that  you  should  have  seen 
for  yourself  what  Socialism  really  is.  You  might 
have  gone  on  all  your  life  deluding  yourself,  but  now 
you  know." 

"You  are  right,  Mina.  We  will  put  by  the  past 
and  bury  it  and  look  only  to  that  future  of  happiness 
that  lies  before  us.  We  will  go  out  into  the  great 
world  beyond  and  live  as  man  has  always  lived; 
normally,  striving  for  happiness  and  success,  each 
according  to  his  ability.  I  see  it  all  now;  I  was 
blind  before.  There  is  no  such  thing  as  ideal  free- 
dom in  the  world.  A  man  wins  out  by  overcoming 
his  adverse  circumstances,  and  must  hew  his  own 
path  to  make  the  most  and  best  of  himself.     When 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  195 

the  State  regulates,  provides  for  and  controls  the 
Individual  as  it  necessarily  does  in  the  Socialist 
system,  it  reduces  us  to  the  level  of  sheep  or  cattle.'* 

Just  then  Denis  interrupted  them  by  calling  out, 
"Come  on,  Carl,  we  are  ready." 

They  descended  into  the  valley  under  Carl's  di- 
rection. Although  it  was  easier  going  down  than 
their  ascent  of  the  day  before,  it  was,  nevertheless, 
difficult  ground  to  cover.  Fallen  timber,  underbrush, 
loose  gravel,  and  at  times  precipitous  places  made 
the  going  often  slow  and  difficult,  but  by  midday 
they  found  themselves  at  the  bottom  of  the  second 
valley.  Here  they  rested  for  an  hour  and  took  their 
lunch. 

Before  them  loomed  a  secpnd  range  much  higher 
than  the  one  they  had  just  crossed.  After  toiling 
upward  with  many  rests  on  account  of  Mina,  by 
nightfall  they  had  only  achieved  half  the  ascent. 
Here  they  remained  for  the  night,  but  early  in  the 
morning,  at  sunrise,  they  started  again,  and  steadily 
climbed  until  sunset,  when  they  finally  reached  the 
summit  of  the  second  range  overlooking  the  plateau 
strewn  with  boulders,  as  described  by  poor  Lori- 
mer.  They  were  then  at  least  seven  thousand  feet 
above  the  Spielgarten  valley.  The  range  they  had 
crossed  the  previous  day  looked  dwarfed  below 
them;  above  them  soared  Mt.  Bebel,  snowclad  and 
with  masses  of  cloud  gathered  around  its  summit. 
Mina  was  filled  with  even  greater  awe  and  admira- 
tion  as   she   gazed  upon  the   stupendous   prospect. 


196  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

The  Spielgarten  lay  before  them  almost  in  miniature. 
Marxville  looked  like  the  merest  handful  of  houses. 
On  the  other  side  of  the  plateau  rose  in  sheer  naked- 
ness the  range  of  mountains  between  them  and  the 
sea. 

With  the  setting  of  the  sun  the  air  became  very 
cold.  Carl  and  Denis  gathered  firewood  from  fal- 
len timber  and  soon  had  a  bright  and  roaring  fire, 
around  which  they  grouped  with  their  blankets 
wrapped  around  them,  for  a  cold  and  raw  air  was 
blowing  down  from  the  snowclad  heights  of  Mt. 
Bebel.  It  was  arranged  that  each  of  the  men  should 
keep  a  watch  and  replenish  the  fire  during  the  night. 

When  morning  broke  they  bestirred  themselves 
again  and  prepared  to  set  out.  They  followed  the 
course  of  the  stream  flowing  through  the  plateau 
until  they  came  to  the  edge  of  the  great  precipice 
over  which  it  plunged.  As  they  gazed  down  over 
the  precipice  Mina  drew  back  with  a  sharp  breath, 
saying  it  made  her  dizzy.  Skirting  the  precipice 
on  the  right  under  Carl's  guidance,  they  followed 
the  upper  side  of  the  abutting  cafion  along  which 
Lorimer  had  originally  made  his  way.  In  due 
time  they  came  to  the  head  of  the  canon  and  found, 
as  Lorrimer  had,  and  as  Carl  had  on  his  return  to 
the  Spielgarten,  the  graduated  descent  from  the 
accumulated  washing  of  the  rain. 

Carl  informed  them  that  they  could  descend  in  two 
ways :  one  by  the  way  in  which  Lorrimer  had  taken, 
using  a  rope,  which  they  had  provided,  to  swing  them- 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  197 

selves  down  from  the  forty-foot  cliff  which  lay 
nearly  at  the  bottom,  or  they  could  make  a  consider- 
able detour  to  the  extreme  end  of  the  canon  where 
the  descent  would  be  easier,  but  would  take  a  much 
longer  time  to  achieve.  He  himself  had  been  com- 
pelled to  come  back  by  the  latter  way,  as  he  had  no 
means  of  getting  up  the  forty  feet  of  sheer  cliff  which 
Lorimer  had  descended  by  means  of  the  rope. 

They  were  all  of  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  bet- 
ter to  take  the  longer  way  round  rather  than  run 
any  risk,  especially  with  Mina.  There  was  no  need 
for  hurry,  and  in  all  likelihood  they  would  have  to 
remain  a  considerable  time  in  the  valley  below  be- 
fore an  opportunity  of  escape  presented  itself. 

The  descent  was  finally  successfully  accomplished, 
though  not  without  some  minor  mishaps,  chiefly  in 
the  way  of  bruises  from  rocks  and  boulders  with 
which  they  came  into  collision,  and  a  strained  shoul- 
der on  the  part  of  Denis,  who  slipped  in  the  loosened 
gravel  and,  sliding  down  some  twenty  feet,  struck 
against  a  heavy  boulder.  Once  at  the  bottom  of  the 
caiion  in  safety,  they  pursued  their  way  into  the  val- 
ley and  traversed  it  to  the  little  hut  that  had  been 
built  by  Lorimer.  There  they  concluded  to  remain 
and  make  it  their  abiding  place  until  they  should  be 
able  to  escape. 

That  night  the  three  men  talked  over  the  plan  of 
escape  as  suggested  in  Lorimer's  diary.  It  was  de- 
termined that  they  would  go  down  to  the  river  the 
next  morning  and  reconnoitre.     They  agreed  that 


198  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

one  of  them  should  keep  a  constant  watch  for  the 
coming  of  the  tug  with  provisions  for  the  garrison. 
The  information  contained  in  Lorimer's  account 
pointed  out  the  way  clearly  to  them,  and  they  deter- 
mined to  seize  the  first  opportunity  that  offered. 

The  next  morning  Denis,  Carl  and  Clausen  went 
down  to  the  river's  bank  arid  surveyed  the  scene. 
They  selected  a  point  just  opposite  the  barracks 
where  some  one  of  them  would  be  constantly  on  the 
watch.  There  Carl  and  Clausen  left  Denis  and  re- 
turned to  Lorimer's  hut.  Before  doing  anything 
else  they  dug  a  grave  and  placed  the  remains  found 
in  the  hut  in  it.  They  then  set  to  work  to  enlarge  the 
structure  for  their  own  convenience,  as  they  did  not 
know  how  long  they  would  be  forced  to  remain.  As 
Lorimer  had  done,  they  built  the  walls  of  the  rough 
stones  they  found  along  the  bank  of  the  stream  and 
in  its  bed,  plastering  the  crevices  with  mud.  It  took 
them  several  days  to  complete  it,  two  of  them  work- 
ing diligently  at  it,  while  one  kept  watch  on  the 
point  overlooking  the  bay. 

It  was  now  two  weeks  since  their  arrival  and 
there  were  no  signs  of  the  tug  appearing.  They 
could  easily  imagine  the  loneliness  of  Lorimer  dur- 
ing his  long  and  weary  vigil,  with  no  soul  to  speak 
to.  Denis  and  Carl  were  growing  restless,  but  there 
was  no  help  for  it.  Meantime  they  had  speculated 
much  upon  what  they  should  do  when  they  seized 
the  tug  and  whither  they  should  go,  as  they  were 
utterly  without  knowledge  as  to  what  part  of  the 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  199 

world  they  were  in.  The  people  of  the  Spielgarten 
knew  nothing  of  their  place  on  the  surface  of  the 
earth,  and  those  who  had  been  transported  thither 
from  the  outside  had  always  been  kept  prisoners  be- 
low deck  during  the  voyage  with  no  means  of  even 
calculating  the  time  of  the  voyage.  Carl  thought 
it  must  have  been  at  least  ten  days,  though  that  was 
only  guess  work  on  his  part.  The  island,  from  its 
character  and  its  flora,  was  clearly  within  the  upper 
edge  of  the  tropical  zone.  Whither,  then,  should 
they  steer  their  course  in  the  event  of  their  safely 
capturing  the  tug?  All  these  things  were  discussed 
again  and  again,  but  with  no  result,  save  the  one 
idea  of  finally  getting  to  America. 


r 


CHAPTER  XX 

One  day  Clausen  was  talking  with  Mina  as  she 
was  drying  her  hair  after  washing  it  in  the  stream  a 
little  above  the  hut.  The  sun  shone  directly  upon 
her  head  and  as  she  stood  with  her  luxuriant  tresses 
streaming  down  over  her  shoulders,  Clausen  noticed 
little  gleaming  specks  through  it. 

"Why,  Mina,"  he  said,  "how  your  hair  sparkles 
in  the  sunlight!  Come  here,  my  child,  let  me  look," 
and  Clausen,  taking  a  strand  in  his  hand,  examined 
it  closely  and  uttered  an  exclamation  of  astonish- 
ment. "Where  were  you  washing  your  hair?"  he 
asked  eagerly. 

"Why,  father,  what  is  the  matter?  You  seem  ex- 
cited over  it." 

"Yes,  yes,"  Clausen  cried,  "it  looks  like  gold  dust, 
Mina.    Show  me  the  spot." 

"It  is  just  beyond  the  first  bend  there  where  the 
bushes  are."  And  Mina  led  the  way  to  a  bend  in 
the  bank  where  an  eddy  had  formed;  the  bottom  was 
sand.  Clausen  stooped  over  and,  scooping  up  a 
handful  let  the  water  ooze  out  between  his  fingers, 
sorting  the  sand  in  his  hand  with  his  forefinger  and 

200 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  201 

holding  it  exposed  to  the  bright  sunlight.  Little 
particles  glinted  in  the  sun.  Clausen  felt  his  heart 
beat.  If  it  were  gold,  here  was  the  solution  of  a 
difficulty  which  had  perplexed  him  ever  since  the 
prospect  of  escape  had  opened  up.  If  they  success- 
fully reached  the  outer  world,  what  were  they  to  do 
without  the  means  of  life,  for  wherever  they  might 
go  they  would  be  empty  handed,  and,  at  least  in  the 
beginning,  dependent  upon  the  charity  of  others; 
but  with  gold  in  their  possession  they  would  be  mas- 
ters of  their  destiny. 

Mina  could  not  understand  her  father's  excite- 
ment; reared  in  the  Spielgarten,  she  had  no  idea  of 
the  value  of  the  precious  metal.  Money  was  not 
used  in  the  Spielgarten,  and  there  was  no  gold  even 
for  ornament.  The  Spielgarteners  were  a  purely 
agricultural  and  rural  people,  living  an  idyllic  life 
on  the  lowest  terms.  To  Mina  gold  meant  nothing, 
but  to  Clausen,  who  knew  the  outer  world,  it  meant 
much,  and  to  be  armed  with  it,  under  the  circum- 
stances in  which  they  would  have  to  face  the  world, 
meant  secured  victory  in  the  battle  of  life. 

"Denis,  Denis!"  shouted  Clausen.  "Come,  come.'* 
Denis,  who  was  near  by,  roused  by  the  intensity  in 
Clausen's  voice,  and  imagining  that  something  un- 
usual or  serious  had  happened,  came  rushing  to 
where  Clausen  and  Mina  were  standing.  "What  is 
it?"  asked  Denis  anxiously,  staring  at  Clausen,  who 
was  still  sorting  the  particles  in  the  palm  of  his 
hand. 


202  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

*'Look,  Denis,"  said  Clausen,  stretching  out  his 
hand.  "Look  at  the  particles  of  gold  there!  See 
them  glitter  in  Mina's  hair!  It  is  gold,  I  tell  you. 
I  discovered  it  first  in  Mina's  hair,  which  she  had 
been  washing  in  the  stream  there." 

"Glory  be  to  God!"  exclaimed  Denis,  with  his 
eyes  almost  bulging  from  their  sockets  as  he  looked 
at  the  sand  in  Clausen's  hand  and  at  Mina's  hair. 
"I'm  thinkin'  I  could  be  continted  for  a  while  here 
now  if  there  is  enough  of  the  stuff  to  make  it  worth 
the  waitin'."  And  Denis  forthwith  proceeded  to 
scoop  up  a  handful  of  the  sand  and  scrutinize  it 
eagerly. 

"Sure,  it's  the  stuff  that  makes  the  wurruld  go 
round.  It's  thinkin'  I  am  that  wc  needn't  be  in  such 
a  pother  to  get  away  now.  A  bit  of  this  In  our 
pockets  when  we  get  out  will  go  a  long  ways  to 
makin'  friends." 

Mina  was  greatly  astonished  at  her  father's  and 
Denis'  excitement  over  the  finding  of  gold,  but,  never- 
theless, she  had  gleaned  enough  to  understand  that 
it  must  have  tremendous  value  in  the  world  outside. 

"You  do  not  understand,  Mina,"  said  Clausen. 
"Gold  is  the  most  precious  of  all  metals,  and  man- 
kind the  world  over  has  always  set  the  highest  store 
upon  it,  and  amongst  all  people  it  is  taken  in  ex- 
change for  everything.  If  we  can  gather  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  gold  here,  and  it  seems  to  me  there  must 
be  a  good  deal  in  the  bed  of  the  stream,  we  can  go 
out  into  the  world  with  all  confidence  in  the  future. 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  203 

It  will  put  power  and  Independence  In  our  hands." 

As  Clausen  was  speaking  they  heard  Carl's  voice 
calling  only  a  short  distance  away.  His  tones  were 
excited,  and  as  they  turned  in  his  direction  they  saw 
him  running  toward  them  from  a  little  distance  down 
the  stream. 

"The  tug!  the  tug!"  shouted  Carl,  waving  his 
hand  at  them. 

Denis  and  Clausen  looked  at  each  other.  Here 
was  a  crisis.  The  tug  coming  just  at  the  moment 
when  they  had  found  that  gold  was  contained  in  the 
stream  that  flowed  at  their  feet.  Carl  came  up, 
panting  and  flushed;  he  had  rushed  back  from  his 
observation  point  as  soon  as  he  had  seen  the  tug 
enter  the  bay,  in  order  to  convey  the  news  to  the 
others  as  quickly  as  possible.  To  his  astonishment, 
neither  Clausen  or  Denis  shared  his  excitement. 
They  stood  looking  at  each  other  rather  blankly, 
each  holding  a  fistfull  of  sand  In  his  hand.  It  seemed 
very  odd  to  Carl  and  even  stupid.  Why  didn't  they 
arouse  to  the  situation  at  the  good  news  of  the  com- 
ing of  the  tug? 

The  same  thought  had  come  into  the  minds  of 
both  of  the  other  men.  To  leave  now  before  they 
could  gather  enough  gold  for  their  advent  into  the 
outer  world  would  be  folly,  with  it  lying  right  under 
their  feet  only  waiting  for  the  taking. 

"What's  the  matter?"  asked  Carl.  "You  stand 
there  looking  at  each  other  as  if  I  had  not  brought 
you   the    most   momentous    information   you    could 


204  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

hear  I  I  tell  you  the  tug  is  coming  into  the  bay 
now!" 

"Yes,  we  understand,  Carl,"  answered  Clausen. 
"But  something  has  happened  here  that  makes  things 
quite  different.  See  this  in  my  hand,"  and  Clausen 
held  out  his  open  palm  to  Carl  with  its  numerous 
glittering  particles. 

Carl  opened  his  eyes  wide  and  stared,  and  then 
lifting  up  his  head  looked  wonderingly  into  Clausen's 
face  as  he  began  to  comprehend.  "Is  it  gold?" 
Clausen  nodded,  and  Carl,  seizing  Clausen's  hand, 
held  it  closer  to  his  eyes  as  if  scarce  believing  the 
truth  of  them. 

"How  did  you  find  it?"  asked  Carl. 

"Through  Mina  there,"  answered  Clausen.  "I 
noticed  the  glint  of  something  in  her  hair,  and  found 
she  had  been  washing  it  in  the  stream.  The  sand 
that  I  hold  in  my  hand  was  taken  from  the  spot, 
and  you  can  see  the  gold  in  it." 

For  the  moment  the  coming  of  the  tug  went  en- 
tirely out  of  Carl's  mind, 

"We  must  make  a  quick  decision,"  said  Clausen. 
"If  we  are  to  attempt  escape  by  seizing  the  tug  on 
this  trip  we  shall  have  to  abandon  all  idea  of  secur- 
ing any  of  the  gold.  What  do  you  say?"  addressing 
both  Carl  and  Denis. 

"I'm  for  shtayin',  sure,"  said  Denis.  "T'would 
be  throwin'  away  the  chanct  of  a  lifetime  to  turn  our 
backs  now  upon  it.  Besides,  the  tug  will  come  again, 
sure,  and  we  know  that  It  would  take  some  time  to 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  205 

pan  enough  gold,  for  panning  it  is  the  only  way  we 
can  get  it." 

"What  do  you  say,  Carl?"  asked  Clausen.  "Shall 
we  make  the  attempt  now,  or  shall  we  remain  to  get 
the  gold?" 

"I  think  as  Denis  does,"  responded  Carl.  "There 
is  no  argument  about  it.  If  we  can  get  out  into  the 
world  provided  with  means  of  sustenance  and  even 
more  by  spending  a  little  time  here  we  would  be 
more  than  foolish  to  neglect  it.  By  all  means  let 
us  begin  at  once  to  pan  for  the  gold,  but  who  knows 
the  process?" 

"I  have  read  about  it,"  said  Clausen,  although  I 
have  never  seen  it.  Do  you  know  anything  about  it, 
Denis?" 

"Divil  a  bit,"  answered  Denis,  "the  only  gold  I 
ever  saw  was  in  ould  Ireland,  and  there  it  is  as  scarce 
almost  as  the  snakes,  and  I  have  a  way  of  thinkin' 
that  maybe  in  some  ways  v/e're  the  better  off  for  the 
scarcity  of  them  both,"  and  Denis'  eyes  twinkled  as 
he  got  off  this  bit  of  moral  sententiousness. 

"Well,  we  shall  have  to  make  the  attempt  as  best 
we  can,"  said  Clausen.  "All  I  know  is  that  a  shallow 
vessel  is  filled  with  the  matejrial  with  which  the  gold 
is  mixed,  and  held  just  beneath  the  surface  of  the 
water  and  gently  occillated  while  the  lighter  ele- 
ments are  washed  over  the  lip  and  the  heavier  sink 
to  the  bottom.  Then  the  gravel  and  other  non-me- 
tallic elements  of  a  larger  size  are  picked  out  by  the 
fingers." 


2o6  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

"That's  a  slow  process,"  remarked  Carl,  "and 
it  will  take  a  long  time  to  pan  sufficient  gold," 

"Well,  it's  plenty  of  time  we  have,"  said  Denis. 
"It's  the  one  thing  that's  costin'  us  nothing  and  in 
this  climate  'tis  aisy  passin'.  There's  no  hurr}^  about 
gettin'  away,  and  sure  we  are  comfortable  enough 
here,  an'  the  tug  will  be  comin'  again." 

"Very  good,"  said  Clausen,  "but  let  us  get 
busy  at  once.  The  only  vessels  we  can  utilize 
are  cooking  utensils,  and  I  think  they  will  do 
admirably." 

"In  the  meantime  I  think  it  would  be  well,"  said 
Carl,  "to  go  to  the  point  and  watch  the  proceedings 
as  the  tug  lands  and  find  out  all  we  can  for  future 
guidance  when  we  make  the  attempt  to  seize  it  later 
on.  I  will  go  down  to  the  point  and  let  you  know 
what  I  observe." 

For  the  next  three  weeks  all  busied  themselves, 
including  Mina,  in  panning  the  gold.  Mina  soon 
grew  more  expert  than  any  of  them.  The  residue  of 
gold  left  was  not  great  at  first,  but  Denis  explored 
the  stream  higher  up  and  found  a  much  richer  de- 
posit. This'they  worked  diligently,  and  before  long 
had  accumulated  a  considerable  quantity. 

The  tug  visited  the  garrison  again  at  the  end  of 
the  three  weeks,  but  they  determined  not  to  make  the 
attempt  to  seize  her  until  her  next  visit,  so  that  they 
might  be  able  to  accumulate  more  of  the  precious 
metal.  They  utilized  a  large  and  very  tough  leaf, 
something  like  the  palm  leaf,  which  grew  profusely 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  207 

in  the  valley,  as  pouches.     These  Mina  sewed  to- 
gether to  hold  the  gold. 

Carl  had  duly  reported  what  he  had  seen  at  the 
point  during  the  two  visits  of  the  tug  boat,  and  it  was 
determined  that  on  her  next  appearance  they  would 
make  the  attempt  to  escape.  They  laid  their  plans 
carefully.  There  was  only  one  difficulty  that  both- 
ered them,  and  that  was  how  to  get  Mina  across  the 
river.  Carl  suggested  the  building  of  a  raft  on 
which  they  could  float  Mina  over  and  which  the 
three  men  could  push  In  front  of  them,  but  Denis 
made  the  happy  suggestion  that  this  was  needless, 
as  when  they  seized  the  boat  it  would  be  easy  to  row 
over  and  get  Mina.  In  this  way  also  she  would  be 
in  no  danger  in  case  of  a  struggle,  which,  how- 
ever, they  did  not  anticipate  as  they  hoped  to 
take  the  soldiers  unawares  when  they  were  in 
bathing. 

Ijt  was  just  ten  weeks  after  the  discovery  of  the 
gold  that  Denis,  who  was  keeping  watch  at  the  point, 
announced  that  the  tug  was  approaching.  It  was 
then  late  In  the  evening.  The  three  men  waited  until 
night  had  fallen  and  then  swam  across  the  river 
under  cover  of  darkness.  They  spent  the  night  at 
the  top  of  the  bluff  just  above  the  garrison  and 
waited  in  hiding  until  midday.  The  tug  lay  about  one 
hundred  yards  out  from  the  shore  just  opposite  the 
barracks.  It  had  been  unloading  all  the  morning 
and  by  noon  the  work  seemed  to  have  been  com- 
pleted.    The  three  men  watching  were  fearful  at 


208  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

first  that  the  tug  might  perhaps  depart  immediately, 
but,  fortunately,  this  did  not  happen. 

At  the  noon  hour  all  the  soldiers  and  the  two 
sailors,  who  had  been  unloading,  proceeded  to  the 
shore  and  plunged  in,  disporting  themselves  in  great 
glee  in  the  water.  As  soon  as  the  three  men  were 
satisfied  that  no  one  remained  in  the  house  they 
cautiously  slipped  down  and  crossed  the  space  be- 
tween the  barracks  and  the  bluff  and  quietly  entered. 
The  interior  was  as  Lorimer  had  described  it  in  his 
diary.  All  three  immediately  seized  rifles  and  re- 
volvers, which  they  proceeded  to  load.  When  all 
was  ready  they  walked  around  the  barracks  and  ad- 
vanced toward  the  bathers.  At  first  they  were  not 
seen  and  were  half  way  down  to  the  beach  before 
one  of  the  soldiers,  perceiving  them,  uttered  an  ex- 
clamation of  surprise  and  alarm,  whereat  all  the 
men  in  the  water  turned  and  faced  them  in  dumb 
astonishment.     "Hands  up!"  shouted  Denis. 

It  was  a  full  half  minute  before  the  bathers  re- 
covered from  their  consternation.  They  looked  at 
Carl,  Denis  and  Clausen  as  if  they  were  apparitions, 
for  they  never  dreamed  that  any  human  being  could 
possibly  get  out  of  the  Spielgarten  at  that  end  of 
the  island. 

"Hands  up !"  again  shouted  Denis,  and  immedi- 
ately sixteen  hands  were  lifted  with  alacrity. 

"What  need  is  there  of  our  lifting  our  hands?" 
ventured  one  of  the  soldiers;  "you  see  we  are  not 
armed." 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  209 

"Sure,  I  see,"  said  Denis,  "but  it  is  the  regulation 
way  of  doin'  the  job.  Ye  can  put  them  down  now, 
and  do  all  ye  come  ashore  all  together,"  The  bath- 
ers obeyed  sheepishly.  "Now,"  said  Denis,  after 
the  bathers  had  gathered  in  a  group  on  the  beach,  "is 
this  all  of  ye?  If  there  is  any  more  of  ye  let  me 
know." 

"Yes,"  answered  the  man  who  had  spoken  be- 
fore, "this  is  all  of  us  except  the  engineer,  who  is  on 
the  tug."  Denis  glanced  at  the  tug  in  fear  that  per- 
haps the  engineer  had  seen  the  performance,  but 
there  was  no  appearance  of  the  man  anywhere,  and 
Denis  concluded  that  he  must  be  down  below.  "Be 
quiet  there,  you  spalpeens,"  he  admonished  the 
group.  "The  first  one  of  ye  that  makes  a  noise  will 
go  to  Kingdom-come  quicker  than  he  knows,"  and 
there  was  a  menace  in  the  Irishman's  voice.  "Carl, 
do  you  and  Clausen  get  in  the  boat  there  and  go  out 
to  the  tug  and  seize  it.  If  the  engineer  gives  any 
trouble  don't  be  compunctious;  we  can't  afford  to 
have  any  slip  now." 

Carl  and  Clausen  immediately  jumped  in  the  boat, 
while  Denis  stood  with  two  pistols  in  his  hands,  cov- 
ering the  mute  and  cowed  men. 

In  a  few  minutes  Carl  and  Clausen  reached  the 
tug.  Carl  cautiously  climbed  aboard  with  the  re- 
volver ready,  and  Clausen  followed  him,  after  hav- 
ing made  the  boat  fast.  They  stealthily  approached 
the  cabin  door,  which  was  open,  and  peered  in. 
There  was  no  evidence  of  the  engineer  there.    They 


2IO  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

then  proceeded  to  the  engine  room,  but  he  was  not 
there  either.  There  was  but  one  place  left  and  that 
Mas  in  the  pilot  house.  Ascending  the  three  or  four 
steps  which  led  up  to  the  door,  Carl  cautiously 
opened  it,  and  in  full  view,  outstretched  upon  a 
cushion  to  one  side,  lay  the  engineer,  evidently  asleep. 

Carl  stepped  in  and  prodded  the  prostrate  man  in 
the  side  with  the  muzzle  of  his  revolver.  The  engi- 
neer grunted  and  then  lazily  opened  his  eyes,  which 
grew  wide  in  astonishment  at  seeing  a  stranger  bend- 
ing over  him.  Coming  to  a  sitting  posture,  he  stared 
blankly  at  Carl  for  a  moment.  "Get  up,"  ordered 
Carl,  as  he  held  his  revolver  pointblank  at  the  now 
thoroughly  awakened  and  open-mouthed  engineer. 

"Where  did  you  come  from,  and  what  do  you 
want?"  stammered  the  surprised  man. 

"Never  mind,"  said  Carl,  "you  come  with  me." 
The  engineer  obeyed  with  a  shrug  of  his  shoulders, 
as  much  as  to  say  that  there  was  no  help  for  it. 
Taking  the  man  to  the  deck,  Carl  and  Clausen  or- 
dered him  into  the  boat  and  rowed  ashore  with  him. 

As  soon  as  they  landed  Denis  shouted  to  the  engi- 
neer, "Hands  up,  there!"  and  then  to  Clausen  and 
Carl,  "don't  you  see  he  has  his  clothes  on  and  may 
be  armed?"  Whereat  both  Clausen  and  Carl  felt  a 
bit  sheepish,  for  they  had  entirely  overlooked  that 
possibility.  "Search  him,  Carl,"  said  Denis,  which 
Carl  forthwith  proceeded  to  do,  but  found  no 
weapon  upon  the  engineer  except  a  jackknife,  which 
Carl  put  in  his  own  pocket.    The  engineer  was  then 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  iit 

commanded  to  place  himself  with  the  other  pris- 
oners. 

"Denis,  you  and  Clausen  stay  here  on  guard  and 
I  will  row  over  immediately  to  get  Mina,"  and  Carl 
stepped  into  the  boat  and  started  across  the  river. 

"Did  you  come  out  of  the  Spielgarten?"  inquired 
one  of  the  men. 

"We  did,"  answered  Denis,  "thanks  he  to  God, 
and  we'll  never  go  back.  It's  a  divil  of  a  hole  I  tell 
ye,  and  I  niver  want  to  see  its  likes  again."  Whereat 
the  man  who  had  asked  the  question  grinned. 

"An'  what's  more,"  continued  Denis,  "we  brought 
a  lady  wid  us.  Carl  there  has  just  gone  to  fetch  her. 
An'  our  present  intintion  is  to  take  the  tug  there  and 
get  to  the  outside  world,  leaving  ye  here  with  our 
compliments  and  best  wishes,  but,  meanwhile,  as  the 
lady  will  soon  be  here  I  recommend  that  ye  put  on 
your  clothes." 

The  prisoners  proceeded  immediately  to  dress 
themselves  while  Denis  went  through  the  crowd, 
searching  to  see  if  they  might  have  any  weapons, 
but  found  none. 

"Is  there  any  of  you,  spalpeens,"  said  Denis,  "who 
would  like  to  take  the  voyage  wid  us?"  None  of 
the  prisoners  answered.  "Well,  then,"  said  Denis, 
"we'll  have  to  do  a  little  impressin'.  I  think  we  will 
stand  in  nade  of  the  engineer.  Here,  you,"  pointing 
to  the  engineer,  "sthand  aside  there,  we'll  need  your 
services." 

The  prisoners  began  talking  among  themselves 


212  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

and  finally  one  of  the  sailors  stepped  out  from  among 
them  and  volunteered  to  go  with  them.  "Right  ye 
are,^'  said  Denis,  "sthand  there  by  the  engineer." 
Two  of  the  other  men  also  volunteered,  but  Denis 
declmed,  with  the  remark  that  they  had  a  full  crew, 
and  that  he  did  not  want  to  weaken  the  garrison  for 
fear  the  Spielgarteners  might  come  down  upon  them 
in  force. 

By  this  time  Carl  was  half  way  across  the  river, 
returning  with  Mina.  Denis  suggested  to  Clausen  to 
go  up  to  the  barracks  and  secure  all  the  cartridges 
in  the  place  and  to  see  that  none  of  the  guns  were 
loaded.  After  this  had  been  done  and  Clausen  re- 
turned, the  entire  party,  including  the  engineer  and 
the  sailor  who  had  volunteered,  stepped  into  the 
boat,  which  had  arrived  with  Carl  and  Mina.  As 
they  rowed  away  Denis  shouted  back  to  the  soldiers 
on  the  beach,  "Now,  gintlemen,  you  can  continue 
your  bathin'."  They  immediately  boarded  the  tug 
and  weighed  anchor,  and  proceeded  to  steam  out  of 
the  bay,  Denis  standing  by  the  sailor  who  was  act- 
ing as  pilot  and  Clausen  in  the  engine  room  with  the 
engineer. 

In  ten  minutes  the  entrance  of  the  harbor  was 
reached  and  the  tug  steamed  out  into  the  open  sea. 
The  sailor  at  the  wheel  turned  to  Denis  and  asked: 
"Which  way?" 

Denis  looked  blank  for  an  instant,  then  put  his 
hand  to  the  back  of  his  head  reflectively.  "Divil  a 
bit  do  I  know.  What  part  of  the  world  are  VvC  in, 
anyhow?    I  have  been  in  that  hell  hole  over  there 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  213 

these  tin  years  past,  and  whin  I  came  it  was  in  the 
black  darkness  below  decks  of  the  steamer  that 
brought  me.  What  part  of  the  world  is  it,  me  lad?" 
"Schlectland  is  about  north  latitude  twenty-three 
degrees  and  longitude  seventy  degrees." 

"Just  leave  the  latitude  and  longitude  alone,  me 
boy.  Little  geography  I've  got.  What  I  want  to 
know  is,  where  are  we?" 

"Schlectland  is  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  about  a  hun- 
dred miles  east  of  the  Bahama  Islands,  and  about 
three  hundred  miles  from  the  coast  of  America." 

"America,  that's  it;  we'll  steer  sthraight  for 
America,  me  lad.  That's  the  land  for  me,  and  for 
all  good  Irishmen." 

Meantime  Clausen  was  plying  the  engineer  below 
with  questions,  and  elicited  from  him  about  the  same 
information  that  Denis  was  getting  from  the  sailor 
in  the  pilot  house  above. 

Clausen's  mind  was  much  relieved  at  this  infor- 
mation. So  far  they  had  met  with  extraordinary 
good  luck.  Indeed,  the  episode  of  intimidating  the 
soldiers  and  seizing  the  tug  had  been  almost  rfdicu- 
lously  easy. 

The  engineer  turned  to  Clausen  and  said:  "I  want 
you  to  understand  that  I  am  perfectly  willing  to  go 
with  you;  there  is  no  need  of  that  revolver  in  your 
hand." 

Clausen  thrust  the  weapon  into  his  pocket,  and 
went  up  the  hatchway  to  the  deck  and  into  the  pilot 
house.  Denis  had  already  instructed  the  sailor  to 
head  the  tug  in  a  westerly  direction.    They  were  now: 


214  CRUCIBLE  ISLAND 

ten  miles  off,  and  Schlectland  was  beginning  to  re- 
cede in  the  distance. 

Mina  and  Carl  stood  together  in  the  bow  of  the 
boat.  Carl  held  her  clasped  to  steady  her,  as  the 
motion  of  the  boat  was  beginning  to  be  felt  consider- 
ably. She  had  never  seen  the  sea  before.  The  rich 
color  had  come  into  her  cheeks  and  her  eyes  sparkled 
with  a  keen  delight. 

"It's  wonderful,  Carl  I  I  never  dreamed  the 
world  could  be  like  this !" 

Around  them  the  great  waves  were  tossing  with 
white  crests  above  the  blue  waters.  The  sky  over 
them  was  a  deep  and  fleckless  sapphire.  They  both 
turned  and  looked  at  the  island  now  lessening  con- 
stantly in  the  distance.  "Thank  God  we  are  rid  of 
that,"  said  Carl.  And  Mina's  only  reply  was  to 
draw  closer  to  him. 

In  the  pilot  house  Clausen  and  Denis  were  con- 
sulting about  their  course.  Neither  knew  anything 
about  navigation  and  the  sailor  at  the  wheel  knew 
little  more,  and  his  knowledge  of  the  seas  to  the 
west  of  Schlectland  was  not  great.  "We  shall  have 
to  depend  on  you,  my  lad,"  said  Clausen,  "as  we  are 
ignorant  of  both  navigation  and  the  sailing  of  a 
ship.  You  do  your  best  for  us  and  we  will  reward 
you  amply.    Are  you  willing?" 

"Yes  sir,  I  am,"  replied  the  sailor.  "I  joined  you 
of  my  own  free  will,  and  as  long  as  I  am  with  you  I 
will  be  glad  to  do  all  that  I  can.'* 

Thev  continued  their  course  steadily  westward, 
and,  after  four  hours,  the  only  part  of  Schlectland 


CRUCIBLE  ISLAND  215 

visible  to  them  was  the  soaring  summit  of  Mount 
Bebel.  Carl,  Clausen,  Mina  and  Denis  stood 
grouped  on  the  after  deck,  gazing  at  the  distant 
peak.  At  the  end  of  another  hour  it  had  become  a 
hazy  outline  on  the  horizon  to  the  east.  The  sun 
was  sinking,  a  huge  red  globe,  into  the  waters  before 
them.  As  night  fell  and  the  stars  rushed  out,  the 
sea  behind  them  became  one  wide  waste  of  waters — 
Mount  Bebel,  grim  sentinel  of  their  long  prison- 
house,  had  disappeared.  They  were  free  at  last! 
Onward  the  little  boat  ploughed  through  the  tum- 
bling seas  to  the  land  of  liberty  awaiting  them  be- 
yond, America. 

THE   END 


^J>'/, 


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